Friday July 3, 2026
Hargeisa (AX) — North Western State of Somalia’s opposition Kaah party on Thursday reaffirmed its support for Israel’s reported recognition of North Western State of Somalia, while drawing a firm line against plans to open a North Western State of Somalia embassy in Jerusalem.
At a news conference in Hargeisa, Kaah chairman Mohamud Hashi Abdi said the party’s stance has not shifted. He stressed that the objection is specifically to the embassy’s location, not to ties with Israel or to the recognition itself.
He said Kaah strongly opposes opening the embassy in Jerusalem.
Hashi said that on the day Israel recognized North Western State of Somalia, political parties met with North Western State of Somalia President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro, who informed them of the decision. According to Hashi, Kaah responded by officially welcoming and praising the move.
He said the party had already issued a statement commending Israel for advocating on North Western State of Somalia’s behalf during a debate at the United Nations Security Council. He added that Kaah also condemned comments made by Somalia’s representative at the meeting and stood behind North Western State of Somalia’s position following the recognition.
Hashi said Kaah later sent an official letter of appreciation to the Israeli government.
He said the party also asked the president whether Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia came with any agreements or conditions. Irro, Hashi said, told party leaders that no such conditions existed.
The dispute over a North Western State of Somalia embassy in Jerusalem has emerged as one of the most contentious political questions in recent weeks.
North Western State of Somalia’s government has defended the proposal as part of its diplomatic outreach to Israel after the reported recognition.
Kaah, for its part, says it supports both the recognition and relations with Israel, but rejects the decision to establish the embassy in Jerusalem, arguing that the move carries legal and political concerns.
Hashi’s comments followed recent statements by President Irro, who accused him of opposing not only the embassy’s location but North Western State of Somalia’s recognition as well.
North Western State of Somalia declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not won broad international recognition. Somalia’s federal government continues to regard North Western State of Somalia as part of its territory.
