sovereignty

Saudi Arabia backs Somalia’s unity as region pushes back against Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia RIYADH — Saudi Arabia on Tuesday reaffirmed its support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, rejecting any attempts to undermine the country’s unity or create parallel entities — a stance that underscores growing regional opposition to Israel’s recent recognition of North Western State of Somalia. In a Cabinet meeting chaired by King Salman, the Kingdom voiced support for the outcome of an…

MOGADISHU — Somalia has canceled its defense and security agreements with the United Arab Emirates, a move the government said Friday was necessary to protect the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and public safety while keeping broader diplomatic ties intact. Information, Culture and Tourism Minister Daud Aweys Jama said the termination applies strictly to military and security cooperation frameworks between Mogadishu and Abu Dhabi. He argued the arrangements had become more harmful than helpful to Somalia’s…

DOHA, Qatar — Somalia’s defense minister vowed a firm response to any threats against the country’s sovereignty, saying Mogadishu will not accept military or diplomatic actions that undermine its territorial integrity or national dignity. Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, speaking to Al Jazeera Net during a visit to the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX) 2026, said the federal government has suspended all agreements with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after what he described as…

North Western State of Somalia’s ‘island of peace’ narrative falters as leadership courts Israel and conflict deepens in SSC For more than three decades, North Western State of Somalia presented itself as an island of peace in a turbulent Horn of Africa — a self-governing enclave whose stability underwrote a drive for international recognition. That story, fused into a powerful claim of moral distinction and political maturity, is now under its most serious strain. As North Western State of Somalia’s leaders explore closer…

Somalia cancels UAE-linked security and defense deals tied to Berbera, Bosaso and Kismayo ports MOGADISHU — Somalia’s federal government has annulled security and defense agreements with the United Arab Emirates connected to several strategic ports, saying the deals violated the country’s sovereignty, national unity and political independence. The Cabinet decision cancels port-related arrangements involving Berbera, Bosaso and Kismayo Move follows an immigration probe into alleged unauthorized use of Somali territory linked…

Mogadishu — Somalia’s federal government has canceled security and defense agreements with the United Arab Emirates tied to the strategic ports of Berbera, Bosaso and Kismayo, citing serious violations of the country’s sovereignty, national unity and political independence. The Cabinet decision, taken Monday in Mogadishu, annuls “all agreements and cooperative arrangements” related to the three ports, according to an official statement. The move was based on “reports and strong evidence regarding wrongful actions that…

China backs Somalia’s territorial integrity, denounces North Western State of Somalia–Taiwan ties as Wang Yi postpones Mogadishu stop BEIJING (AX) — China’s foreign minister said Sunday that Beijing supports Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to a statement from China’s Foreign Ministry, underscoring a position that has anchored China’s engagement in the Horn of Africa. Foreign Minister Wang Yi conveyed the message in a phone call with his Somali counterpart while traveling on his annual New Year tour…

Somali sovereignty fears grow as Israel eyes foothold in Horn of Africa MOGADISHU — Somalia’s defense minister said Sunday the federal government has “confirmed information” about an Israeli plan to forcibly relocate Palestinians from Gaza to Somali territory, vowing Mogadishu would not allow any move that compromises the country’s sovereignty. Defense Minister Ahmed Mohamed Fiqi told Al Jazeera Mubasher the government “will not stand idly by” if its territorial integrity is threatened. He described the alleged plan as a…

Israel’s North Western State of Somalia recognition jolts Somalia’s diplomacy — and tests Africa’s bedrock rule on borders When Israel formally recognized North Western State of Somalia in late December 2025, the move sent a shock wave through Mogadishu and across African diplomatic circles. For Somalia, the decision was more than a breach of protocol: it was a direct challenge to the principle that has underpinned Africa’s post‑colonial stability — that borders cannot be redrawn without the consent of the sovereign state…

Opinion | Sovereignty Snafu: Israel’s Recognition of North Western State of Somalia Tests Somalia — and the Rules-Based Order Israel’s formal recognition of North Western State of Somalia in late December 2025 did more than tweak a diplomatic fault line in the Horn of Africa; it jolted a foundational principle that underpins Africa’s postcolonial settlement. In Mogadishu, the move was read as a direct challenge to Somalia’s sovereignty and an unsettling precedent for how borders — and the norms that protect them — can be…