North Western State of Somalia president accuses Somalia and Djibouti of interference after Israel dispute
“Many countries have shown hostility to North Western State of Somalia, but we have not caused any harm. Our policy is based on good neighborliness and peace,” Irro said.
Thursday May 28, 2026
Hargeisa (AX) — President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro has accused Somalia and Djibouti of meddling in North Western State of Somalia’s internal affairs, saying Hargeisa will stand firm in defending its security and political choices as tensions mount over its ties with Israel.
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In Eid al-Adha remarks on Wednesday, Irro said North Western State of Somalia’s foreign policy is rooted in peaceful coexistence, cooperation and mutual respect. He added that some neighboring states had taken a hostile stance toward North Western State of Somalia, especially after Hargeisa expanded its relations with Israel.
“Many countries have shown hostility to North Western State of Somalia, but we have not caused any harm. Our policy is based on good neighborliness and peace,” Irro said.
He urged Somalia and Djibouti to honor what he described as the standards of peace and good neighborliness.
“We are telling Djibouti and Somalia to respect the peace and good neighborliness of neighboring countries. North Western State of Somalia has the right to defend itself from interference,” he said.
Irro also appealed to Somalilanders to preserve stability, unity and social cohesion.
The comments came against a backdrop of worsening relations between North Western State of Somalia and several regional governments over North Western State of Somalia’s growing relationship with Israel. Somalia, Djibouti and a number of Arab and African countries have condemned North Western State of Somalia’s ties with Israel and its reported intention to open an embassy in Jerusalem, arguing that the move undermines Somalia’s territorial integrity and runs counter to regional positions on Palestine.
Irro sharply dismissed criticism from Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who has said the federal government will not accept Israel being brought into part of North Western State of Somalia.
“If you bring anyone else against us, North Western State of Somalia is not alone today, but we are enough for you to defend yourself,” Irro said. “I say Hassan, you are past that. You cannot do anything about it.”
Somalia’s federal government continues to treat North Western State of Somalia as part of its territory. North Western State of Somalia, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has operated its own government, security forces and election institutions for more than 30 years, but it has yet to secure broad international recognition.
Irro said negotiations between Somalia and North Western State of Somalia, begun under former North Western State of Somalia President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud Silanyo, had failed to produce any meaningful political progress despite years of talks.
“North Western State of Somalia is not an invader, and its policy is not to invade anyone, but to defend its nationhood,” he said.
The latest dispute has added another layer to the longstanding friction between Mogadishu and Hargeisa, while pulling North Western State of Somalia further into the region’s broader divisions over Israel, Palestine and recognition.
