Somalia National Council: Israeli Recognition of North Western State of Somalia Risks Regional Security

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s National Consultative Council on Monday condemned Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region of North Western State of Somalia, calling the decision an illegal act that threatens security across the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and the wider Middle East.

In a communiqué issued by the Office of the Prime Minister after meetings in Mogadishu, the council said the move violates Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and reaffirmed what it called a non-negotiable national stance on unity rooted in the Provisional Constitution, the United Nations Charter and the African Union Charter.

The National Consultative Council (NCC) session, chaired by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, spotlighted unity, security and Somalia’s political trajectory. The body urged Somalis to show solidarity and to reject statements or actions that undermine peace, national cohesion and independence.

Israel became the first country to recognize North Western State of Somalia as a sovereign state on Friday, a step that drew swift criticism from Somalia’s allies, including Türkiye, and from governments and regional organizations across Africa and the Middle East. North Western State of Somalia, which declared independence in 1991, functions as a de facto autonomous political, administrative and security entity, but is not internationally recognized. Mogadishu continues to regard the northern territories as an integral part of Somalia.

Officials present at the Mogadishu consultations included:

• President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (chair)
• Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre
• Deputy Prime Minister Saleh Ahmed Jama
• Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen
• Galmudug President Ahmed Abdi Kariye (Qoorqoor)
• Hirshabelle President Ali Abdullahi Hussein (Ali Guudlawe)
• Northeastern State President Ahmed Aw Ali
• Banadir Regional Governor Hassan Mohamed Hussein (Muungaab)

The council outlined a series of steps aimed at consolidating internal stability even as it pushed back against Israel’s move:

• Rejection of the recognition of North Western State of Somalia, which the NCC labeled an unlawful infringement on Somalia’s sovereignty with potential to destabilize the Horn of Africa and adjacent waterways.
• A nationwide call for unity and vigilance against rhetoric or actions that could fray the social fabric or weaken state institutions.
• Endorsement of the Dec. 25 Banadir Regional local council elections as a milestone in political progress and an indicator of democratic momentum, with a pledge to accelerate similar local elections across federal member states.
• Commitment to intensify operations against the Khawarij — the government’s term for Al-Shabaab — with the stated goal of eradicating terrorism and improving security for civilians.

The communiqué framed Israel’s recognition as running counter to established international norms on territorial integrity, underscoring the risk of broader regional fallout if long-standing boundaries are unilaterally revised. It also sought to tie Somalia’s internal reforms — particularly local electoral processes — to a wider stabilization agenda, arguing that expanding representative governance underpins security and rule of law.

The Somali federal government did not announce retaliatory measures on Monday but signaled it would press its case through diplomatic channels and multilateral forums while intensifying domestic state-building. The council’s emphasis on expediting local council votes positions grassroots elections as a key pillar of governance and a counterweight to extremist influence.

With maritime security in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden already under stress, Somali officials warned that any move to redraw political maps without consensus could inject new volatility into some of the world’s most sensitive shipping lanes. The NCC’s stance sets the stage for a broader diplomatic contest over recognition and regional stability that is likely to unfold in the coming days.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.