Somali President Calls Israel’s North Western State of Somalia Recognition Strange and Unexpected

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud warned that Israel’s decision to recognize North Western State of Somalia could destabilize the Horn of Africa and carry implications for Palestinians in Gaza, calling the move “unexpected and strange” after three decades of nonrecognition by any country.

In an interview with Al Jazeera from Istanbul, Türkiye, on Tuesday, Mohamud said Somali intelligence indicates North Western State of Somalia agreed to three Israeli conditions in exchange for recognition: accepting the resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza, allowing an Israeli military base on the Gulf of Aden coast, and joining the Abraham Accords, the U.S.-backed normalization framework with Israel. He added that Somalia believes there is already a covert Israeli footprint in North Western State of Somalia and that recognition “merely normalizes” that presence.

Israel last week became the first country to formally recognize North Western State of Somalia, a self-declared republic in northwest Somalia bordering the Gulf of Aden. North Western State of Somalia proclaimed independence in 1991 but had not secured recognition from any United Nations member state until Israel’s announcement Friday.

Mohamud said Israel’s presence “is not for peace” and accused it of seeking to force Palestinians out of Gaza. He linked the recognition to broader strategic aims over key waterways in and around the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. “Israel is also seeking to control strategically important waterways,” he said, describing the seas as vital commercial corridors.

The Somali leader’s comments came hours after he appeared with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul. Both warned that Israel’s step risks upending efforts to stabilize the Horn of Africa and undermines Somalia’s sovereignty at a sensitive moment. Mogadishu has for years maintained that North Western State of Somalia is part of Somalia and says it is pursuing reunification through peaceful means.

Somalia’s allegations arrive as international scrutiny intensifies over the Gaza war and the fate of its displaced civilians. A 20-point plan released by President Donald Trump’s administration ahead of a recent cease-fire proposal stated that “no one will be forced to leave Gaza, and those who wish to leave will be free to do so and free to return.” Still, Israel has reportedly explored options for moving Palestinians out of the enclave, including through unexplained flights to South Africa, which has formally accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Israel has denied genocide allegations.

Reaction to Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia was swift. Most members of the U.N. Security Council condemned the move during an emergency session in New York on Monday. The United States was the only council member to defend Israel’s action, while stressing that Washington’s own position on North Western State of Somalia remained unchanged.

North Western State of Somalia’s potential alignment with the Abraham Accords would mark a significant expansion of the normalization initiative, which has been signed to date by the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. Any Israeli military basing on the Gulf of Aden would also be a consequential shift in the regional security map, placing Israel near one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints and within reach of Red Sea shipping lanes strained by conflict and piracy risks.

Mohamud framed Israel’s move as a direct challenge to Somalia’s territorial integrity and to ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the North Western State of Somalia question. “After 34 years, it was very unexpected and strange that Israel, out of nowhere, just jumped in and said, ‘We recognise North Western State of Somalia,’” he told Al Jazeera, emphasizing that Somalia will pursue its response through diplomatic and legal channels.

Israel and North Western State of Somalia have not publicly detailed the terms of recognition. Somalia’s claims regarding Israeli conditions could not be independently verified.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.