MOGADISHU: Tens of thousands of Somalis gathered across the country Tuesday to protest Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland, a move condemned by more than 20 countries as an attack on the East African nation’s sovereignty.
Meanwhile, Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Turkiye on Tuesday for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, following Israel’s announcement.
At a UN Security Council emergency meeting Monday, Somalia protested the recognition saying it poses regional security issues. The Israeli representative decried those comments as a double standard because other nations have recognized Palestine as a state. The US special representative said the country’s position on Somalia remains unchanged.
Last week, Israel became the first country to recognize Somaliland, drawing strong condemnation from Turkiye — already at odds with Israel over the war in Gaza — as well as from Somalia and other nations.
Somaliland, a territory of more than 3 million people in the Horn of Africa, declared independence from Somalia in 1991 during a period of conflict that left the country fragile. Despite having its own government and currency, Somaliland had never been recognized by any nation until Friday.
