Somaliland

North Western State of Somalia’s Irro urges African, Arab states to recognize region after Israel’s move Hargeisa (AX) — North Western State of Somalia President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro on Tuesday called on African and Arab countries to recognize North Western State of Somalia, arguing the region has earned international acceptance and should no longer be overlooked after Israel’s decision to formally recognize it. Speaking at a consultation meeting with former foreign ministers at the presidential palace in…

Türkiye and OIC's Firm Stance Against Israeli Recognition of North Western State of Somalia Türkiye and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have reiterated their strong support for Somalia, firmly rejecting Israel's recognition of North Western State of Somalia as an independent state. This decision was made clear during the 22nd Extraordinary Session of the OIC's Council of Foreign Ministers in Saudi Arabia. The session was chaired by Turkish Deputy Minister Ambassador Musa Kulaklıkaya. Türkiye emphasized…

Israel’s unilateral recognition of North Western State of Somalia as an independent state has jolted the Horn of Africa, triggering swift international pushback and raising fresh concerns about maritime security, legal precedent and regional stability. In Somalia, the move sparked immediate street protests. Abroad, governments across Africa, Europe and the Middle East — joined by the United States — moved quickly to restate Somalia’s territorial integrity. The African Union led with a reaffirmation of Somalia’s unity, a line…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s defense minister accused Israel of planning to forcibly relocate Palestinians to North Western State of Somalia and urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reverse Israel’s surprise recognition of the breakaway region, escalating a diplomatic standoff that has rippled across the Horn of Africa and the Middle East. In an interview with Al Jazeera broadcast Saturday, Defense Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi called Israel’s move a “serious violation” of international law and a “direct attack” on…

Somalia’s month-long presidency of the UN Security Council, its first in 54 years, has arrived with an unexpected geopolitical twist: a fight to contain the fallout from Israel’s recognition of Somaliland and the wider regional implications it carries from the Horn of Africa to the Red Sea and Gaza. In its opening days, the council convened an emergency session on Venezuela. But Mogadishu has made clear it intends to use the gavel to rally opposition to Israel’s move and to defend Somalia’s internationally recognized…

Sunday January 11, 2026 JEDDAH — Foreign ministers from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Saturday condemned Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia and reaffirmed their support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, warning the move sets a dangerous precedent and threatens regional stability in the Horn of Africa. The rebuke came at the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers’ 22nd extraordinary session, held at the organization’s headquarters in Jeddah and convened to address developments in…

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia and fellow members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Saturday condemned Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia and reaffirmed support for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, warning the move risks destabilizing the Horn of Africa. Representing Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji told an extraordinary OIC meeting in Jeddah that the kingdom “categorically rejects” what he described as a…

Saudi Arabia leads OIC rebuke of Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia, backs Somalia’s unity JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia on Saturday led a forceful pushback within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation against Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia, urging a unified response that reaffirms Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji, representing Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan at an extraordinary OIC session in Jeddah, said…

OIC states condemn Israeli official’s visit to North Western State of Somalia as violation of Somalia’s sovereignty Foreign ministers from more than 20 member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned an Israeli official’s Jan. 6 visit to North Western State of Somalia, calling it an illegal act that violates the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia. In a joint statement issued Thursday, the ministers said the visit “breaches international law and the U.N. Charter”…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the capital late Thursday to protest Israel’s recognition of the self-declared Republic of North Western State of Somalia, waving Somali flags and chanting patriotic songs in a show of national unity. The rally at Taleh Square in downtown Mogadishu condemned Israel’s move as a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Protesters held placards rejecting what they called foreign interference in the Horn of Africa nation’s internal affairs. It was…