The Government of the Republic of Somaliland Rejects the Somalian President’s Misleading Claims

Hargeisa, Republic of Somaliland | 3 October 2026

The Government of the Republic of Somaliland firmly rejects the misleading claims made by the Somalian president in his recent interview with Al Jazeera. Somaliland and Somalia are two separate sovereign states with fundamentally different governance realities. The Somalian Government has no authority to determine Somaliland’s foreign relations or speak on behalf of its people.

The Republic of Somaliland attained independence on 26 June 1960, before Somalia attained independence on 1 July 1960. Somaliland’s sovereignty rests on the continuity of that independent state within its inherited borders, consistent with the principle of uti possidetis juris (respect for boundaries inherited at independence). The restoration of its sovereignty on 18 May 1991 reaffirmed this enduring statehood.

For more than three decades, Somaliland has built functioning institutions, held competitive elections, ensured peaceful transfers of power, and contributed to regional stability. Somalia’s continuing insecurity, political fragmentation, and institutional fragility cannot be obscured by misrepresenting Somaliland or threatening its sovereign partnerships.

The Government of the Republic of Somaliland’s diplomatic relations with the State of Israel reflect the sovereign decisions of two states and advance peaceful cooperation, development, and regional stability. Claims that Berbera would serve as a platform for aggression against other countries are unfounded and misrepresent Somaliland’s commitment to peaceful relations. The Somalian president’s attempts to speak on behalf of the people of Somaliland are equally unacceptable.

The Government of the Republic of Somaliland has consistently supported negotiated arrangements enabling the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to secure access to the sea through mutually beneficial cooperation. The Somalian Government’s campaign against the 2024 Ethiopia–Somaliland Memorandum of Understanding directly contradicts its professed support for such access. The Government of the Republic of Somaliland rejects interference in its sovereign agreements and remains committed to arrangements that respect sovereignty and advance regional prosperity.

The Government of the Republic of Somaliland condemns threats of force and interference in its internal affairs. It calls on the Somalian leadership to exercise restraint and address its domestic challenges responsibly. Somaliland will continue to safeguard its sovereignty, pursue peaceful diplomacy, and strengthen partnerships that promote stability across the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea. — END —