MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s Federal Parliament has unanimously rejected Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, declaring the move “null and void” and without any legal standing under international law. The decision was taken during an extraordinary joint session of both chambers of parliament held on Sunday, December 28, 2025, in Mogadishu.
Lawmakers from the House of the People and the Upper House adopted a formal resolution titled “Resolution on the Rejection and Prevention of the Violation by Israel of the Sovereignty, Territorial Integrity and Independence of the Federal Republic of Somalia.” The resolution asserts that Somaliland, referred to as the northwestern regions, is an inseparable part of Somalia’s sovereign territory and that any attempt to recognize it as an independent state lacks a legal basis.
Addressing the joint session, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud strongly condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision, describing it as the most serious violation of Somalia’s sovereignty in recent history. He labeled the move a “naked invasion” against Somalia’s independence, unity, and statehood.
“Somalia is one country with a long history. The northern regions, known as Somaliland, are part of the Federal Republic of Somalia,” the president told lawmakers, stressing that national unity is non-negotiable.
The parliamentary resolution outlines several key points, including a categorical condemnation of Israel’s recognition, which lawmakers said violates the United Nations Charter, the Constitutive Act of the African Union, and the charters of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It also warns that any individual or institution, Somali or foreign, that acts in violation of the resolution could face legal consequences under Somali law.
In addition, parliament instructed the federal government to formally notify international and regional bodies — including the United Nations, African Union, and IGAD — of Somalia’s position, reinforcing its commitment to safeguarding territorial integrity and national security.
Lawmakers further argued that Israel’s recognition poses a broader threat to peace and stability in the Horn of Africa and beyond, framing the issue as not only a Somali concern but a regional and global security matter. The resolution took immediate effect after being signed by Speaker of the House of the People Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur (Madobe) and First Deputy Speaker of the Upper House Ali Sha’ban Ibrahim.
Meanwhile, in Hargeisa, Somaliland’s House of Representatives took the opposite stance, formally endorsing Israel’s decision. In a resolution passed on Saturday, the regional parliament described Israel’s recognition as a “courageous and principled step” that advances Somaliland’s long-standing pursuit of international recognition.
Somaliland lawmakers argued that the move reflects the will of their people and called on the international community to respect what they described as Somaliland’s right to self-determination. They also urged other countries to follow Israel’s example, while warning against external interference in the region’s internal affairs.
Despite Somaliland’s position, Israel’s recognition has been widely rejected by major international and regional organizations, including the African Union, Arab League, European Union, Gulf Cooperation Council, and the OIC, all of which have reiterated their support for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not received international recognition. Its current president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro, has made gaining formal recognition a central objective since assuming office last year.
