Protests in Mogadishu over Somaliland

Protesters gathered in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu to denounce Israel’s reported recognition of Somaliland, a self-declared republic that Somalia considers an integral part of its territory. Demonstrators marched through central areas of the city carrying Somali flags and placards, chanting slogans rejecting any move they said undermines Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial unity.

Participants accused Israel of interfering in Somalia’s internal affairs and warned that recognizing Somaliland could destabilize the Horn of Africa. Speakers at the protest said any international recognition of Somaliland without the consent of the federal government in Mogadishu violates international law and risks encouraging separatism elsewhere in the region. Some protesters also criticized Western countries they believe could follow a similar path.

Somalia’s federal government has not announced a change in official policy but has repeatedly stated that it rejects any foreign recognition of Somaliland. Officials have long argued that Somaliland’s 1991 declaration of independence lacks legal basis despite the region maintaining its own government, security forces and institutions for more than three decades.

Security forces were deployed around the protest to prevent unrest, and authorities said the demonstration remained largely peaceful. Traffic was briefly disrupted in parts of the capital as crowds moved through main streets.

Somaliland, located in northwestern Somalia, has sought international recognition for years, citing relative stability compared with the rest of the country. Somalia’s government, however, insists that any change to the country’s borders must come through dialogue and constitutional processes.

Analysts said the protests reflect deep sensitivities around sovereignty in Somalia, where years of conflict and fragmentation have made territorial integrity a central political issue. The demonstration in Mogadishu highlighted how developments involving Somaliland continue to resonate strongly across the country and provoke public backlash when foreign recognition is perceived as a possibility.