Somalia's President Accuses Israel of Destabilizing Horn of Africa

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud stated on Saturday that Israeli interference in Somalia's internal affairs is a primary driver of instability in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region. Speaking during the eighth session of the federal parliament, Mohamud emphasized that Mogadishu will continue to defend the nation's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity against all forms of external interference. Somalia insists that any foreign government interactions with Somaliland must be coordinated with the federal executive and adhere to international law. The president's remarks follow Somaliland's inauguration of its own embassy in Jerusalem in mid-June, a move Somalia condemned as a "violation" of its sovereignty lacking legal or political validity. Somaliland, which unilaterally declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and functions as a de facto state, was recognized by Israel in December 2025. This recognition has faced widespread opposition from African nations, the Islamic world, China, and the European Union. The establishment of the embassy in Jerusalem is also contentious due to Israel's claim over the entire city, including East Jerusalem, which is internationally unrecognized, while Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as their capital.