By Hassan Adan

The government of Somalia on Wednesday condemned what it described as an Israeli attempt to undermine its territorial integrity, following an announcement by Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs to appoint a diplomatic representative to the breakaway region of Somaliland.

In a statement, Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the move constituted “a direct breach of Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity,” and warned it ran counter to international law and established global consensus.

“Somaliland remains an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia,” the ministry said. “Any initiative that seeks to portray it as a separate entity is without legal basis.”

The Horn of Africa nation, which considers Somaliland part of its territory despite the region’s self-declared independence in 1991, said the Israeli decision contradicts principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter and the founding framework of the African Union, both of which recognize Somalia as a single sovereign state.

“The Federal Republic of Somalia calls on the Government of Israel to reconsider and fully respect Somalia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence,” it said.

Somalia also appealed to international partners—including the League of Arab States, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and European Union—to reject any steps that could be seen as legitimizing Somaliland’s claim to independence.

Analysts say the issue is highly sensitive, as Somaliland has built its own governing institutions and maintained relative stability compared with other parts of Somalia, but lacks international recognition.
Somalia warned that such moves could complicate ongoing efforts to strengthen state institutions, advance reconciliation, and counter militant threats.

“At a time when Somalia is working closely with international partners to consolidate governance and combat terrorism, such actions risk destabilizing regional progress and emboldening divisive narratives,” the ministry said.

Mogadishu reaffirmed its commitment to defending its sovereignty “through all available diplomatic, political, and legal channels in accordance with international law.”

This latest development comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s December 26 announcement recognizing Somaliland as an independent state, a move denounced by Somali government