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Somaliland Draws Red Lines as Israel Signals Readiness

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Somaliland Warns of ‘Unforgettable Response’ After Somalia President Lands in Lasanod as Israel Raises Regional Alert.

Somaliland has issued a firm and calculated response after Somalia’s president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, landed in Lasanod—a city Hargeisa has administered as part of the Republic of Somaliland since June 26, 1960. The visit, framed by Mogadishu as political theater, is being interpreted in Hargeisa as a deliberate provocation at a moment when Somaliland’s international profile is rapidly advancing.

President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro) made Somaliland’s position unmistakably clear: peace remains the preferred path, but sovereignty is non-negotiable. “Any aggression against Somaliland will be met with an unforgettable response,” the president warned—language signaling deterrence, not escalation. Behind the statement lies a broader message: Somaliland is no longer diplomatically isolated, nor strategically exposed.

The timing matters. Somaliland’s emerging alliances—most notably with Israel—have altered the regional calculus. On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces said it is operating at peak readiness amid rising regional tensions spanning Iran, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. IDF spokesperson Effie Defrin emphasized continuous situational assessments and preparedness “for a wide range of scenarios,” underscoring that Israel is closely monitoring developments beyond its immediate borders.

In Hargeisa, the Lasanod visit is seen as part of a broader campaign of diplomatic, media, and political pressure aimed at slowing Somaliland’s momentum. Officials argue the move attempts to manufacture relevance for a federal government still struggling with internal legitimacy, security dependence, and unresolved governance challenges.

President Irro has also sought to steady public sentiment, acknowledging heightened anxiety as regional tensions intensify. He urged citizens to ignore rumors and rely on official channels, stressing that Somaliland’s leadership is acting with restraint, clarity, and preparedness.

The strategic signal is clear: Somaliland is projecting calm confidence, backed by new partnerships and a sharpened security posture. While Mogadishu stages symbolic visits, Hargeisa is consolidating statecraft—anchoring its foreign policy in security cooperation, values alignment, and deterrence. In the evolving Horn of Africa landscape, Lasanod has become more than a city; it is a test of credibility.

Somaliland

Somaliland Accuses Turkey and Mogadishu of Preparing Military Offensive

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Somaliland Warns Turkey and Somalia Over Alleged Troop and Weapons Deployment to Las Anod.

The Republic of Somaliland has issued one of its strongest warnings yet, accusing Turkey and Somalia’s federal leadership of preparing a military offensive aimed at destabilizing Somaliland following Israel’s recognition of its sovereignty.

According to Somaliland officials, the Commander of the Turkish Armed Forces stationed at TurkSom has arrived in Las Anod, a move Hargeisa describes as direct interference coordinated with Mogadishu. Somaliland alleges that troops and weapons are being mobilized and transported to the contested town with Turkish logistical support.

President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro did not mince words. He warned that aircraft belonging to Turkey were allegedly ferrying Somali troops and arms into Las Anod, framing the buildup as preparation for an attack on Somaliland territory.

“The Somali government is preparing an offensive against Somaliland,” the president said, adding that Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has openly stated that Somalia and its allies aim to bring Somaliland back under Mogadishu’s authority.

Hargeisa views the developments as a dangerous escalation—one that risks igniting wider instability across the Horn of Africa. President Irro explicitly cautioned international actors against being drawn into what he described as a reckless strategy.

“I warn them not to take part in interfering in Somaliland, or to participate in actions that could cause instability in Somaliland or the Horn of Africa,” he said.

The accusations come as Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre arrived in Las Anod for the inauguration of the leader of the so-called North East State administration—an event Somaliland sees as politically provocative and militarily sensitive.

In Hargeisa’s reading, the pattern is clear: diplomatic pressure failed, symbolic visits followed, and now alleged militarization is underway. Somaliland’s message is equally clear—any attempt to resolve political disputes through force will be met with firm resistance, and those enabling such actions will bear responsibility for the consequences.

What happens next in Las Anod may determine whether the region steps back from the brink—or crosses into a far more dangerous chapter.

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Somaliland

Somaliland Activates the Shield: 6,000 Troops Graduate

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Somaliland Graduates 6,000 National Army Soldiers in Sool Amid Rising Tensions With Somalia.

More than 6,000 Somaliland National Army (SNA) soldiers have completed intensive training in the Sool region, marking one of the largest single-force readiness milestones in recent years. The graduation ceremony, attended by the Commander of the National Army and the Minister of Defense, sends a clear and deliberate signal at a moment of escalating political and security pressure.

“We are united in discipline and pride. We stand prepared to defend our country against any aggression and safeguard the nation,” one graduating soldier said—language that reflects not ceremony, but posture.

The timing is not accidental. The training concludes as the Somali federal government intensifies diplomatic and political efforts to undermine Somaliland’s statehood, including symbolic incursions and rhetorical escalation centered on Lasanod. In response, Hargeisa is shifting from reassurance to deterrence.

This is not a mobilization for war, but a calibrated display of readiness. Somaliland’s leadership is signaling that sovereignty is not only defended in diplomatic rooms, but anchored in disciplined, deployable force on the ground.

According to insider security sources, foreign partners are closely watching developments. Both United Arab Emirates and Israel are reported to be directly monitoring the security situation in and around Lasanod, underscoring Somaliland’s growing integration into a wider regional security architecture.

As diplomatic pressure mounts and narratives intensify, today’s graduation reframes the equation. Somaliland is no longer reacting. It is positioning—quietly, deliberately, and with force readiness to back its political trajectory.

In the new phase unfolding in the Horn of Africa, Lasanod is no longer a question mark. It is becoming a line.

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Somaliland

Somaliland Rejects Mogadishu’s Lasanod Provocation

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Somaliland Slams Somalia President’s Lasanod Visit as Minister Khadar Abdi Reasserts Sovereignty.

Somaliland has issued a sharp and calculated response after Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud landed in Lasanod, a city Hargeisa considers an integral part of Somaliland since independence on June 26, 1960. The visit, coming just weeks after Israel’s formal recognition of Somaliland, is widely viewed in Hargeisa as a political provocation rather than a peace gesture.

Minister of the Presidency Khadar Hussein Abdi framed the issue bluntly: Mogadishu is projecting authority it does not possess. His message was not emotional; it was surgical. A president who has failed to unify Mogadishu, Garowe, and Kismayo, failed to build a functional national army, and failed to deliver credible elections, has no standing to dictate affairs inside Somaliland’s borders.

The timing matters. Since Israel’s recognition, Somaliland has faced intensified diplomatic, media, and political pressure. The Lasanod visit fits that pattern — an attempt to manufacture relevance at a moment when Somaliland’s international status is advancing while Somalia’s internal legitimacy remains fragile.

Abdi’s statement reaffirmed two core points of the “Hargeisa Doctrine.” First, Lasanod is Somaliland — historically, legally, and administratively. Second, Somaliland remains committed to resolving disputes through dialogue and peaceful means, not escalation. The contrast is deliberate: confidence versus chaos, institutions versus improvisation.

By urging Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to “put his own house in order,” starting with elections that allow Somalis to choose leadership freely, Somaliland is shifting the burden of credibility back onto Mogadishu. This is no longer a debate about borders; it is a referendum on governance capacity.

The underlying message is unmistakable. Somaliland’s recognition is no longer theoretical — it is a political fact. Symbolic visits, rhetorical threats, or external agitation will not reverse it. As Hargeisa signals calm resolve, Mogadishu’s gestures increasingly look like noise in a region that is already moving on.

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Somaliland

Irro Speaks to the World: Somaliland Steps Out of the Shadows

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President Irro Declares New Era for Somaliland After Recognition in Wall Street Journal Op-Ed.

President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro) has taken Somaliland’s case directly to the global elite, publishing a landmark op-ed in The Wall Street Journal that frames Israel’s recognition not as a diplomatic surprise, but as a historical correction.

Under the title “My Country, Somaliland, Recognized,” President Irro reminded international readers that Somaliland’s sovereignty predates its failed union with Somalia—and that Israel was among the first countries to recognize Somaliland in 1960. In doing so, he recast the current moment as a return to legitimacy rather than a break from the past.

“Our first embassy will be in the Jewish state, whose aspirations and history we share,” Irro wrote—an unmistakable signal that Somaliland’s foreign policy is now anchored in values, security cooperation, and strategic clarity.

The op-ed carefully contrasted Somaliland’s record of peace, democratic governance, and counterterrorism with Somalia’s continued instability, while also acknowledging the broader geopolitical contest unfolding in the Horn of Africa. Irro openly cited Turkey and China’s growing influence in Mogadishu, positioning Somaliland as a credible, stable alternative partner for the West and its allies.

Crucially, the President tied the new relationship with Israel to shared historical trauma, recalling Israel’s opposition to the 1988–1990 genocide against the Somaliland people. That framing elevates the partnership beyond transactional diplomacy—it becomes an alliance rooted in survival, memory, and sovereignty.

The most consequential line came near the end: Irro suggested that “the dam has broken” in Africa. Translation: Israel will not be the last. Others are already watching, calculating, and preparing to follow.

This was not a celebratory article. It was a strategic declaration—calm, confident, and aimed squarely at decision-makers. Somaliland is no longer asking to be understood. It is asserting its place.

Source: The Wall Street Journal / WARYATV News Desk

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Somaliland

Irro Unites Somaliland’s Political Class as Mogadishu Escalates Threats

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President Irro Forms National Political Front After Israel Recognition Amid Rising Tensions with Mogadishu.

President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro) has moved decisively to lock in Somaliland’s internal stability at a moment of historic transition. In a high-stakes national consultation, he brought together the senior leadership of all three national parties—WADDANI, KAAH, and KULMIYE—marking a rare show of unity in Somaliland’s modern political history.

This was not routine politics. It was a strategic consolidation of power and purpose following Israel’s formal recognition of Somaliland and the sharp escalation in hostile rhetoric from the Federal Government of Somalia. Irro framed the recognition not as an endpoint, but as the beginning of a new and more demanding phase—one that requires discipline, maturity, and collective responsibility.

By briefing opposition leaders on the security and diplomatic realities facing the country, the president dismantled any space for internal fragmentation. The message was unambiguous: Somaliland is not seeking confrontation, but its sovereignty is non-negotiable. Any attempt to threaten or invade Somaliland, he warned, will be met with firm resistance—and responsibility for escalation will rest squarely with Mogadishu.

Crucially, Irro called on party leaders to actively shield the nation from internal destabilization, urging them to suppress inflammatory rhetoric and prioritize national cohesion over partisan gain. The response was striking. Leaders from all three parties publicly endorsed the president’s approach, praised his diplomatic achievements, and pledged to stand behind the government during this critical period.

The contrast with Mogadishu could not be sharper. While Somalia’s federal leadership issues decrees it cannot enforce and struggles with internal fractures, Somaliland is demonstrating the core attribute of statehood: unity under pressure.

Irro has effectively shifted the national focus from electoral rivalry to statecraft. In doing so, he has sent a clear signal—to citizens, adversaries, and the international community—that Somaliland enters this new diplomatic era united, confident, and prepared. Israel was the first recognition. The groundwork is now laid for what comes next.

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Somaliland

Irro Unites Somaliland’s Diplomatic Warriors as Recognition Era Begins

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President Irro Consults Former Somaliland Foreign Ministers to Shape Post-Recognition Diplomacy.

President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro) has taken a decisive and symbolic step to consolidate Somaliland’s diplomatic momentum by convening a historic meeting with former Ministers of Foreign Affairs — the architects of the country’s long, uphill struggle for international recognition.

The gathering was more than ceremonial. It was a strategic act of statecraft. By bringing together seven former foreign ministers — and publicly honoring all 15 who have served Somaliland since 1991, including those deceased — President Irro framed recognition not as a personal victory, but as a collective national achievement built over decades.

Calling them the “mujahideen of foreign policy,” the president underscored a central message: recognition is the product of continuity, patience, and institutional memory. In a region where politics often resets with each administration, Irro is deliberately anchoring Somaliland’s new diplomatic phase in accumulated experience.

Crucially, the meeting focused on the new stage Somaliland has entered following Israel’s recognition — a phase that demands unity, discipline, and strategic clarity. Irro emphasized that foreign policy going forward must be rooted in cooperation, mutual respect, and shared interests, while rejecting isolation or ideological rigidity. Somaliland, he stressed, is open to all partners acting in good faith.

The former ministers, for their part, welcomed the consultation as a break from past practice and a sign of political maturity. Their unified support sends a powerful signal to both domestic and international audiences: Somaliland’s diplomatic front is aligned, cohesive, and confident.

Beyond symbolism, the ministers offered concrete recommendations for navigating the current moment — a reminder that recognition brings opportunity, but also pressure, scrutiny, and new risks.

The meeting’s deeper significance lies in its timing. As regional tensions rise and Somalia’s rhetoric grows more hostile, Irro’s call for unity and vigilance reinforces a core Somaliland doctrine: national cohesion is the first line of defense and the strongest tool for advancing statehood.

In bringing past and present together, President Irro is not just managing recognition — he is institutionalizing it. The message is unmistakable: Somaliland’s diplomacy is no longer improvisational. It is deliberate, inclusive, and entering a new era with its full historical weight behind it.

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EDITORIAL

Somalia Ends UAE Defense Pact, Opening New Diplomatic Path for Somaliland

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Mogadishu Walks Away, Hargeisa Steps Forward: How Somalia’s UAE Rift Speeds Somaliland Recognition.

Somalia’s decision to formally annul its security and defense agreements with the United Arab Emirates marks more than a routine diplomatic dispute. It signals a structural shift in the Horn of Africa — one that increasingly favors Somaliland’s long campaign for international recognition.

Mogadishu has presented the move as an assertion of sovereignty. In reality, it exposes the limits of that sovereignty. By cutting ties with Abu Dhabi, the Federal Government of Somalia has effectively abandoned the “Mogadishu First” framework that once allowed it to act as the primary gatekeeper for regional partnerships. The result is a widening opening for Somaliland to consolidate its position as a reliable, self-governing state actor.

The contrast between the two administrations is stark. While Somalia’s cabinet framed its decision in defensive terms, Somaliland’s response — led by Minister of the Presidency Khadar Hussein Abdi — projected confidence and continuity. His message was simple but decisive: partnerships are built on trust, delivery, and long-term consistency. Somaliland, not Mogadishu, has provided that consistency.

Nowhere is this clearer than in Berbera. When international actors hesitated, the UAE invested. That investment reshaped Berbera from a marginal port into a strategic maritime hub linking the Gulf, the Red Sea, and East Africa. For Abu Dhabi, Somaliland has evolved from a local partner into a cornerstone of its regional logistics and security strategy.

Israel’s formal recognition of Somaliland has accelerated this trajectory. It has transformed quiet cooperation into open geopolitical momentum. A new strategic triangle — Hargeisa, Abu Dhabi, and Jerusalem — is beginning to take shape, with direct implications for Red Sea security and global shipping lanes.

Several dynamics make UAE recognition of Somaliland increasingly plausible. First is economic reality. With defense ties severed in Mogadishu, the UAE’s multi-billion-dollar interests in Berbera rest entirely on Somaliland’s legal and security framework. Formal recognition would lock in those investments and remove lingering diplomatic ambiguity.

Second is regional alignment. Somaliland’s growing relationship with Israel fits naturally within the broader logic of the Abraham Accords. A Somaliland recognized by both Israel and the UAE would form a stability corridor along the Bab el-Mandeb — a critical chokepoint for global trade.

Third is power redistribution. As Somalia deepens its dependence on Turkey and Saudi Arabia, the UAE is recalibrating. Securing its maritime interests requires partners that control territory, guarantee security, and honor agreements. Somaliland meets all three criteria.

Mogadishu’s claims of authority over Berbera, Bosaso, and Kismayo increasingly ring hollow. In modern diplomacy, legitimacy is measured less by inherited charters and more by effective governance. Somaliland has maintained internal security, held multiple democratic transitions, and governed its territory continuously since 1991.

Somalia’s exit from the UAE defense pact is therefore not a setback for Abu Dhabi — it is a release. It frees the UAE from Somalia’s internal contradictions and redirects its focus toward its most successful Horn of Africa partnership.

As Mogadishu narrows its options, Somaliland expands its horizon. Recognition is no longer a distant aspiration. It is becoming the logical endpoint of a long-running geopolitical realignment. The remaining question is not whether Somaliland will gain further recognition — but how soon the next domino falls.

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Opinion

Shared Scars: The Parallel Existential Struggles of Israel and Somaliland.

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The histories of Israel and Somaliland are etched with the profound trauma of genocide and defined by a continuous struggle for survival against hostile neighbors. Though separated by geography and culture, their historical converge on a stark common ground: both are nations forged in the fires of catastrophic violence, fighting for their very existence against adversaries dedicated to their erasure.

The Shadow of Genocide:

For both peoples, the term “genocide” is not an abstract historical concept but a lived, painful reality that shapes their national identity and geopolitical posture.

Israel and the Holocaust:

The foundation of modern Israel is inextricably linked to the Holocaust, the systematic murder of six million Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators. This unparalleled catastrophe demonstrated the existential vulnerability of the Jewish people without a sovereign state, a core motivation for Israel’s establishment and  reclaiming the homeland of their ancestors with the determination to ensure “never again.”

Somaliland and the Isaaq Genocide:

Between 1987 and 1989, the regime of Somali dictator Mohamed Siad Barre perpetrated a systematic campaign of annihilation against the Isaaq clan, the majority population of Somaliland. This campaign, officially recognized as a genocide by a United Nations investigation, included the near-total destruction of major cities. Hargeisa, Somaliland’s capital, was approximately 90% destroyed, leading to its grim nickname, “the Dresden of Africa”. The violence was executed with brutal efficiency, involving indiscriminate aerial bombardments. Notably, the Somali regime employed foreign mercenaries, including South African mercenary pilots who conducted airstrikes against civilian areas.

The regime’s propaganda of dehumanising the Isaaq people, labeling them as Jewish with derogatory epithets to justify their extermination.

The Perpetual Threat of Hostile Neighbours:

The trauma of genocide is compounded by an ongoing, fundamental conflict with neighboring entities that reject their right to exist.

Israel’s Regional Adversaries:

Israel’s primary conflict is with Hamas, which is formally dedicated to Israel’s destruction. Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 firing thousands of rockets and sending fighters into Israeli towns, killing civilians and soldiers and taking hostages. This conflict is embedded within a broader regional confrontation with state and non-state actors, many backed by Iran, which also openly seeks to eliminate the Jewish state. This includes persistent threats from Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.

Somaliland’s Struggle with Somalia:

Since restoring independence in 1991, Somaliland’s most pressing existential threat is the Federal Republic of Somalia and their Alshabab cohort. These entities are unreasonably against somaliland’s restoration of  sovereignty in 1991. Mogadishu wages a relentless diplomatic and, at times, military campaign to undermine Somaliland’s sovereignty. This includes supporting proxy forces within Somaliland’s borders. The Las Anod conflict in 2023 is a prime example, where Somali-backed SSC-Khatumo forces fought against the Somaliland National Army.  Mogadishu is constantly fuelling internal strife in Somaliland by providing military hardware to minority clans, viewing it as a strategy to destabilize the breakaway region.

Facing New Existential Fears:

The struggle for recognition and security is a daily reality, with recent developments exacerbating these fears.

For Somaliland, the prospect of a renewed large-scale conflict is a palpable fear. These anxieties were heightened in early 2026 when Somalia’s Defence Minister, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, appealed to Arab nations, Turkey and Egypt , “especially Saudi Arabia,” to take action against Somaliland’s leadership. While Fiqi’s public comments focused on opposing Somaliland’s independence and its relations with Israel, his rhetoric—calling for international pressure and drawing parallels to other regional conflicts—is interpreted in Hargeisa as a direct threat to its survival, stirring memories of past genocide.

Conclusion: An Unending Fight for Existence

Israel and Somaliland, though vastly different in scale and international standing, are bound by a shared historical arc of suffering and resilience. The Holocaust and the Isaaq genocide are foundational tragedies that inform their unwavering focus on self-preservation. Today, both navigate a complex and hostile regional environment where neighboring powers fundamentally challenge their legitimacy. For Israel, the threats are well-documented and widely recognized. For Somaliland, the fight is for the world to acknowledge its historical trauma and its ongoing battle for survival against a neighbor that once sought to eliminate it and continues to deny its right to exist. Their stories are a sobering reminder of how the scars of genocide shape a nation’s destiny and its perpetual struggle for a secure future.

Mo Saeed

Somaliland legal research (SLR)

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