The Somali president’s warning to Israel and Benjamin Netanyahu after the recognition of Somaliland by the Jewish state

The recognition of Somaliland by Israel, which “encourages” secessionist movements around the world, constitutes a “threat” to the security and stability of the Horn of Africa, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud denounced on Sunday.

“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has committed the greatest violation against the sovereignty of Somalia,” criticized Hassan Sheikh Mohamud before the Somali Parliament and Senate, meeting exceptionally due to the crisis situation the country is experiencing.

“Its attempts to divide the Federal Republic of Somalia pose a threat to the security and stability of the world and the region, and they encourage extremist groups and secessionist movements, which exist or may exist in many parts of the world,” he continued.

Somalia ‘will never accept’ expulsion of Palestinians to Somaliland

“We warn Israel and its Prime Minister Netanyahu against transferring its wars from the Middle East to Somalia,” he continued, adding that Mogadishu “will never accept” Israel’s expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza to Somaliland.

Somaliland was among a handful of African states likely to welcome Palestinians from Gaza expelled by Israel, according to press reports from a few months ago, which neither Somaliland authorities nor the Israeli government had commented on.

The territory of Somaliland (175,000 km2 or almost a third of France), which corresponds more or less to the former British Somalia, is located at the north-western tip of Somalia.

It declared independence in 1991, as the Republic of Somalia descended into chaos following the fall of the military regime of autocrat Siad Barre.

The self-proclaimed republic has since functioned autonomously, with its own currency, army and police, and is distinguished by its relative stability compared to Somalia, undermined by the Islamist Shebab insurgency and chronic political conflicts.