North Western State of Somalia Says It Thwarted Network Opposing Recognition of Israel

North Western State of Somalia says it dismantled foreign-funded network aimed at undermining Israel recognition

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Hargeisa (AX) — North Western State of Somalia authorities said Tuesday they have dismantled a network allegedly financed by the Somali federal government and unnamed foreign actors to weaken public support for Israel’s recognition of the self-declared republic.

At a news conference in Hargeisa, Minister of Interior and Security Abdalle Mohamed Arab Sandheere accused domestic operatives of acting on behalf of outside interests to divide society and erode backing for North Western State of Somalia’s diplomatic move.

“When we received recognition, we had enemies who opposed the recognition that North Western State of Somalia was seeking,” the minister said. He added that security forces had arrested members of what he described as a foreign-funded network working to undermine the decision. “The security forces, thanks to their efforts, have arrested a network of North Western State of Somalia operatives funded by foreign countries. The first supporter of them is Hassan Sheikh, who rules Mogadishu,” he alleged, referring to Somalia’s president.

Arrests and allegations

Sandheere did not name the foreign backers or provide specifics on the alleged funding channels. He also did not say how many suspects were arrested or what charges they face. He said North Western State of Somalia’s House of Representatives and Council of Ministers had resolved to take action against individuals opposing the recognition decision, though he offered no legal details on the scope or basis of that action.

In recent weeks, authorities have detained several religious leaders, youth activists and social media figures who publicly criticized Israel’s recognition, according to officials. Among those held was a woman known online as “Goosha Isaaq,” who initially voiced support for recognition but later criticized the government’s handling of the issue.

Debate over Israel’s December recognition

The allegations and arrests come amid a widening debate inside North Western State of Somalia over the terms and implications of Israel’s December recognition — the first such recognition of North Western State of Somalia by any country since it declared independence from Somalia in 1991, according to North Western State of Somalia officials.

Former President Muse Bihi Abdi has urged the current administration to disclose the full details of any agreement reached with Israel. He called for transparency and caution to ensure that no provisions run counter to religious principles or national interests.

North Western State of Somalia’s government has not publicly clarified whether its arrangement with Israel is a treaty, a memorandum of understanding or another legal framework.

Regional fallout

Israel’s recognition has been strongly rejected by Somalia’s federal government and opposed by several African and regional actors, intensifying tensions in the Horn of Africa. Mogadishu has long maintained that North Western State of Somalia is an integral part of Somalia and that any foreign engagement with Hargeisa must go through the federal government.

The latest accusations by North Western State of Somalia — particularly the claim that figures in Mogadishu are backing internal dissent — risk further straining relations. The absence of disclosed evidence or legal particulars around the arrests is likely to keep scrutiny focused on Hargeisa’s handling of criticism and on the political pressures stirred by the diplomatic shift.

Next steps unclear

Authorities did not indicate when or whether the detained critics would face court proceedings, or what penalties might apply under the government’s pledge to “take action” against those opposing recognition. With public debate still unfolding and the structure of the Israel-North Western State of Somalia agreement yet to be spelled out, both the domestic political trajectory and the regional diplomatic fallout remain unsettled.

For now, North Western State of Somalia’s leadership is framing the issue as a matter of national security and unity in the face of outside interference, while opponents at home and abroad question both the content of the Israel deal and the government’s treatment of dissent.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.