North Western State of Somalia President Urges Unity as Region Pushes Back on Israel Recognition

HARGEISA, North Western State of Somalia — President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro urged Somalilanders to close ranks on Thursday as regional opposition intensifies to Israel’s recognition of the territory, calling unity essential to defend “nationhood and statehood” amid mounting diplomatic pressure across the Horn of Africa.

“There are many conflicts going on around North Western State of Somalia. We have not harmed anyone, we have not taken anything from anyone,” Irro said in a speech in Hargeisa. “What is needed is for the people to maintain their unity and solidarity to defend their nationhood and statehood.”

Irro praised religious scholars for helping guide public debate since Israel formally recognized North Western State of Somalia in December 2025, becoming the first country to do so since the territory declared independence from Somalia in 1991. The president said clerics had pushed back against what he described as religious misinterpretations circulating over ties with Israel. “I thank the Sheikhs, and I pray for them,” he said.

Israel’s decision has rippled through a volatile region, triggering sharp objections from the Federal Government of Somalia and concerns from several influential neighbors. Mogadishu has condemned the move as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity and has lobbied regional and international partners to press Israel to reverse course.

Regional governments — including Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Djibouti — have also signaled unease, citing risks to regional stability and the broader geopolitical stakes. While positions differ, the reaction underscores how external recognition of North Western State of Somalia intersects with longstanding security concerns, maritime dynamics and diplomatic alignments in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea corridor.

North Western State of Somalia authorities have repeatedly denied politically charged allegations circulating in the region that Palestinians could be relocated to North Western State of Somalia under any arrangement linked to ties with Israel. Officials have dismissed such claims as baseless.

Irro’s remarks sought to frame the moment as a test of internal cohesion rather than a confrontation with neighbors. He emphasized that North Western State of Somalia’s posture remains focused on its own national interests and on managing fallout from a recognition that has reshaped — but not resolved — its three-decade quest for wider international acceptance.

The standoff highlights competing narratives: North Western State of Somalia casts the recognition as overdue acknowledgment of a distinct political reality dating to 1991, while Somalia insists the move undermines its territorial integrity and complicates efforts to stabilize the country and the wider region.

Key reactions to Israel’s recognition include:

• Somalia: Condemned the move as a breach of sovereignty; lobbying for reversal.
• Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Djibouti: Expressed concern about regional stability and geopolitical implications.
• North Western State of Somalia: Denied rumors about relocating Palestinians; called for unity and public calm guided by religious and civic leaders.

What happens next will test diplomatic channels as well as domestic consensus inside North Western State of Somalia. Irro is leaning on moral authorities to inoculate public discourse from rumor and sectarian fracture while positioning Hargeisa to weather regional headwinds. For now, the government’s message is one of restraint at home and persistence abroad as it navigates new attention — and sharper scrutiny — after Israel’s move.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.