Somalia says Israeli move on North Western State of Somalia violates sovereignty, risks regional stability

Efe Ozkan and Seyit KurtSaturday April 18, 2026

State Minister Ali Mohammad Omar says Mogadishu rejects recognition of breakaway region, warns of security risks in Red Sea corridorANTALYA / ISTANBUL

Somalia’s state minister for foreign affairs has accused Israel of undermining Somali sovereignty after recognizing a region within North Western State of Somalia, saying the move could deepen instability in a strategically sensitive part of the Horn of Africa.

Speaking to Anadolu on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Ali Mohammad Omar said the recognition, which he said occurred in late December, pushed Somalia to step up its diplomatic campaign for international backing.

“Since then, we have taken a lot of steps diplomatically to garner the support of the international community,” he said, adding that major international organizations and several countries, including Türkiye, had stood by Somalia’s position.

Israel move risks fragmentation

Omar repeated Mogadishu’s long-held view that North Western State of Somalia remains part of Somalia, arguing that the region is itself “not cohesive” and that only a small group is driving the push for separation.

“The actions of Israelis are trying to create more difficulty in a region that is already fragmented,” he said, warning that any further division could open space for terrorist groups such as al-Shabaab and ISIS (Daesh) to exploit.

He said the world would be better served by a stable and unified Somalia, especially given the Horn of Africa’s proximity to major shipping lanes.

Omar emphasized that the corridor between the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea is essential to global commerce, saying about 30% of world trade flows through the area.

“The world cannot afford another choke point similar to Hormuz,” he said, cautioning that unrest there could imperil navigation and commercial shipping.

He urged cooperation among regional states, including countries along the corridor, to safeguard the movement of goods.

Türkiye’s role in Somalia, regional mediation

The Somali minister also underscored Türkiye’s years-long involvement in Somalia, calling Ankara’s engagement since 2011 a “turning point” that transformed the relationship from humanitarian aid into development and investment.

He pointed to recent energy exploration and wider economic ties as signs that Somalia could progress beyond aid dependence and build a more resilient economy.

“(Türkiye’s drilling vessel) Cagri Bey, and also the prior seismic ship, all now are pointing Somalia as a potential for investment, he said, adding it will bring “win-win” for both Somalia and Türkiye.

“And this will move Somalia beyond the current trajectory of an aid-dependent, into a more prosperous, resource-dependent state,” he added.

Omar also cited Türkiye’s mediation between Somalia and Ethiopia, referring to a Dec. 11, 2024 agreement in Ankara that helped cool tensions between the neighbors.

“Since that agreement, we get very, very close coordination with Ethiopia,” he said, adding that he hopes continued talks will eventually allow Ethiopia access to commercial ports in Somalia.

He said Somalia remains committed to resolving regional disputes through dialogue and cooperation, with help from partners including Türkiye.