Somali Federal MPs, North Western State of Somalia Ministers Condemn Israel’s North Western State of Somalia Recognition as Sovereignty Threat

MOGADISHU — Federal ministers and lawmakers from North Western State of Somalia’s regions of Sool, Sanaag and Awdal on Saturday condemned Israel’s decision to recognize North Western State of Somalia as an independent state, pledging full support for Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity.

Speaking at a news conference in Mogadishu, the officials called the move unacceptable and an attempt to divide Somalia, aligning themselves with the federal government’s position rejecting any action they said undermines the country’s sovereignty.

“We stand with the Somali government in protecting the unity and territorial integrity of Somalia,” the group said in a joint statement. “We condemn the Israeli regime’s announcement recognizing North Western State of Somalia as an independent entity and reject any step aimed at separating North Western State of Somalia from Somalia.”

The ministers and members of parliament emphasized that the federal government is the sole legitimate authority managing Somalia’s foreign policy, including decisions on international recognition and diplomacy. They argued Israel’s decision violates international norms and infringes on Somalia’s sovereignty.

The officials also distanced themselves from politicians in the Hargeisa and Togdheer regions who have not publicly clarified their positions on Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia, saying such figures do not speak for residents of Sool, Sanaag and Awdal. Those regions have long opposed North Western State of Somalia’s unilateral declaration of independence and have repeatedly emphasized their alignment with the federal state.

Calling for national unity, the speakers urged Somalis across the country to close ranks against what they described as external efforts to fragment the nation. They thanked the international community and global organizations that continue to recognize Somalia’s territorial integrity, saying that support is vital as the country rebuilds state institutions after decades of conflict.

North Western State of Somalia, a region in northern Somalia, declared independence in 1991 after the collapse of the central government. It has operated its own administration and security structures since then but has not received formal international recognition. Israel’s decision to recognize North Western State of Somalia has drawn criticism from Somalia and several other countries, raising concerns about regional stability and adherence to international law.

The unified response in Mogadishu on Saturday underlined the sensitivity surrounding questions of sovereignty and recognition in the Horn of Africa, where border disputes, clan dynamics and geopolitical rivalries frequently intersect. Somalia’s federal authorities have consistently maintained that any move to recognize North Western State of Somalia outside a negotiated political framework undermines the country’s constitutional order and risks inflaming tensions.

Officials from Sool, Sanaag and Awdal framed their message as both a rejection of outside interference and a reaffirmation of constitutional processes for addressing internal political questions. They urged international partners to channel support through Somalia’s federal institutions and to avoid steps they said could embolden separatism or destabilize fragile security gains.

There was no immediate indication of concrete next steps beyond the united political stance voiced in Mogadishu. But the officials said they would continue to coordinate with the federal government and with local communities to reinforce a common message: that Somalia’s borders and sovereignty are not up for unilateral revision by external powers.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.