Waving Somali flags and chanting patriotic slogans, protesters marched through the district carrying placards rejecting what they described as foreign interference in Somalia’s internal affairs. The rally drew local residents, community leaders, and government officials, underscoring broad-based opposition to Israel’s decision.

Participants accused Israel of undermining Somalia’s internationally recognized borders and vowed to resist any external actions they said threaten the nation’s unity.

“This is about defending our sovereignty and our nation,” one demonstrator said, echoing a sentiment widely shared throughout the protest.

The demonstration comes weeks after Israel announced it had recognized Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, becoming the first country to do so. The decision has been firmly rejected by Somalia and condemned by African, Arab, and Islamic organizations, as well as by numerous governments.

Public anger has intensified in recent days following a visit by Israel’s foreign minister to Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland—a trip Somali authorities described as an illegal incursion into their territory.

Somali officials say the federal government has launched a diplomatic campaign to counter Israel’s move, using international forums to rally support for Somalia’s territorial integrity. Authorities report that these efforts have received backing from global and regional partners opposed to the recognition.

Sunday’s rally is part of a series of demonstrations held across Somalia in recent weeks, with protests in major cities and towns repeatedly affirming support for national unity and rejecting what demonstrators describe as Israeli aggression.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has operated as a de facto self-governing entity for more than three decades. However, it has not received international recognition as a sovereign state. Somalia maintains that Somaliland remains an integral part of its territory and argues that any recognition without its consent violates international law.

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On the night of 10 January, Somalia’s Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, in an interview with Al Jazeera Mubasher (Arabic), called on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to carry out an attack on Somaliland similar to the operation launched against Mukalla in Yemen.

“We are calling on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to fully intervene against the Somaliland administration in the same way that was done against Aidarus al-Zubaidi in Yemen,” Fiqi said.

When asked about reports that Aidarus al-Zubaidi had recently passed through Mogadishu after fleeing Yemen, Fiqi said only that the matter would be investigated.

Aidarus al-Zubaidi, the head of the Southern Transitional Council of Yemen, left the United Arab Emirates last week after his forces were overpowered in the Yemen conflict, where militias backed by Saudi Arabia and linked to Iran-backed Houthi forces seized the city of Mukalla, which had served as al-Zubaidi’s stronghold.

He claimed that the Somaliland leadership had “betrayed” the Palestinian cause, referring to Hargeisa’s relations with Tel Aviv.

Somaliland officials has repeatedly stated that its recognition has nothing to do with the Palestinian–Israeli conflict and has also rejected claims that Palestinian refugees would be relocated to Somaliland.

THREATS FROM A MILITARY CAMP

Fiqi escalated his threats against Somaliland amid reports indicating that the Mogadishu-based government, allegedly in coordination with China, is pursuing plans to incite unrest inside Somaliland in an attempt to undermine Israel’s recognition of Somaliland.

Separately, Somalia’s Minister of Defence, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, speaking on Wednesday (7 January 2026) at a Turkish-built military training camp in Mogadishu, told troops to prepare for what he described as an operation to capture Somaliland President Abdirahman Abdillahi Cirro.

Fiqi referred to President Cirro as a “hostile hypocrite.”

“Enemies have brought Jews to us. Those enemies were assisted by Al-Shabaab. We want a force whose power extends across air, land, and sea to apprehend them,” Fiqi said during the graduation ceremony of newly trained soldiers from the Gorgor special forces unit, trained by Turkey.

“I am addressing this force and all the Somali National Army: if we do not eliminate the hypocrites among us, every day they will invite foreign enemies against us,” he said, referring to Israel’s recognition of Somaliland.

“At the forefront of these hypocrites is Cirro,” he added.

Present at the event were Turkey’s Ambassador to Mogadishu, Alper Aktaş, and the Commander of the Somali National Army, General Odowaa Yusuf Rage.

Fiqi thanked Turkey for constructing the military camp in Mogadishu and noted that the 20th training cohort had now graduated.

The Gorgor unit, currently trained by Turkey, has been accused of human rights violations. Former officers who defected from the unit have also alleged that recruitment for training is clan-based, favoring specific clans—claims confirmed by sources formerly within Gorgor.

Israel formally recognized Somaliland on 26 December, and on 6 January, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar paid an official visit to Hargeisa.

The Somali federal government strongly condemned the move, calling it a violation.

However, the Mogadishu-based government exercises no authority over Somaliland, which has maintained its own independent administration for more than 30 years, holding democratic elections, operating its own currency and security forces, and maintaining a functioning government with multiple institutions.

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