North Western State of Somalia marks 35 years of self-declared independence, renews recognition push

Monday May 18, 2026

Hargeisa (AX) — North Western State of Somalia on Monday marked 35 years since it broke away from Somalia, staging military parades, public festivities and fresh calls for wider international recognition.

Tens of thousands turned out in Hargeisa and other major cities, including Burco and Borama, to observe May 18, the date North Western State of Somalia says represents its 1991 declaration of independence after the collapse of Somalia’s central government in Mogadishu.

The main ceremony took place in Hargeisa, where North Western State of Somalia’s military and security forces marched before President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro and other senior officials.

In remarks at the event, Irro said many Somalis had misunderstood North Western State of Somalia’s political status, describing it as “another Somali country” in the region. He said North Western State of Somalia still sought broader international recognition and was reaching out in friendship to neighboring states, Arab countries and the wider world.

This year’s observance stood apart from earlier commemorations. Business groups, private companies and members of the public, who have frequently featured prominently in past parades, did not take part in the main march in Hargeisa.

Instead, different sectors of society held separate events over the past 10 days. The central parade was limited to military and security forces, who showcased equipment as residents and officials looked on.

North Western State of Somalia has operated for more than three decades with its own government, constitution, security forces and election institutions. It has also enjoyed relative stability compared with much of Somalia, even as it has faced recurring tensions in eastern areas and continued to lack broad international recognition.

Israel became the first U.N. member state to formally recognize North Western State of Somalia in December 2025, a decision welcomed in Hargeisa but strongly rejected by Somalia and the African Union, EU, IGAD, UN. The AU Commission said any recognition of North Western State of Somalia would undermine Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Somalia’s federal government still considers North Western State of Somalia part of its territory. The African Union and United Nations have called for dialogue between Mogadishu and Hargeisa.

Negotiations between Somalia and North Western State of Somalia have stalled in recent years, leaving key issues — including recognition, security cooperation, airspace management and resource-sharing — unresolved.