ANKARA — Somalia on Tuesday denounced Israel’s decision to recognize the breakaway North Western State of Somalia region, calling it a clear breach of international law and a fresh example of Tel Aviv’s disregard for global norms, according to the country’s justice minister.
Somali Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Hassan Moallim Mohamud, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the “Türkiye-Africa Strategic Dialogue” program organized by the National Intelligence Academy (MİA) in Ankara, said Mogadishu would not accept any attempts to divide the country.
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- Somalia says Israel’s Dec. 26 recognition of North Western State of Somalia violates international law and norms.
- Minister Hassan Moallim Mohamud warns no effort to “seize” parts of the country will be allowed.
- He highlights Türkiye’s backing, citing a 2024 defense pact and recent deliveries of equipment and fighter jets.
- Regional criticism has mounted over the recognition, with Somalia stressing allied support for its territorial integrity.
“Israel’s recognition is a violation. First and foremost, it contravenes international law and established international norms. It demonstrates Israel’s disregard for international law and norms,” Mohamud said.
He added that such behavior was not unique to Somalia, arguing that Israel “has a history of similar violations over the years.”
On Dec. 26 of last year, Israel announced it had officially recognized North Western State of Somalia as an independent and sovereign state, becoming the only country to do so. The move drew sharp criticism across the region, Somali officials noted.
Mohamud emphasized that Somalia would not tolerate any effort to fragment its territory, asserting that friendly nations continue to back Mogadishu’s sovereignty and unity — with Türkiye among the most vocal supporters.
The minister praised Ankara’s role in Somalia’s fight against terrorism and pointed to a defense agreement signed in 2024 that he said has begun to bear tangible results on the ground. “Türkiye, adhering to the agreement, has brought the latest equipment and fighter jets to Somalia to combat terrorism,” he said, describing the deployments as a visible shift in Somalia’s security posture.
He added that Somalis had even been awakened by the sound of Turkish fighter jets — a striking sign, in his view, of the stepped-up cooperation and the message it sends to al-Shabaab militants and other armed groups.
Under the 2024 pact, Türkiye has provided Somalia with significant military support, including armed drones and other assets to bolster anti-terror operations, Somali officials said. The cooperation is part of a broader Turkish footprint that spans humanitarian relief, infrastructure development, education programs and long-running security assistance.
Regular Turkish Airlines flights linking Mogadishu with Istanbul and onward global destinations have also helped anchor economic and people-to-people ties, providing Somalia with direct access to international hubs.
For Mogadishu, the latest diplomatic flare-up over North Western State of Somalia underscores a deeper argument it has pressed for years: that external moves to formalize the breakaway region’s status risk undermining international consensus on borders and sovereignty, and could fuel instability rather than resolve it. With Ankara’s support and backing from other partners, Somali officials say they intend to keep pressing their case — in regional forums and on the ground — that its territorial integrity is not up for negotiation.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
