The Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia has reaffirmed its firm commitment to preserving the country’s national unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, announcing that it strongly opposes any unilateral actions or decisions that undermine the legal and political standing of the Somali government. In an official statement issued by Mogadishu, it strongly condemned any activities that violate international consensus as well as the resolutions of regional and international organizations.
The Federal Government explicitly rejected any unilateral measures that threaten the legitimacy and existence of the Somali state or contradict international laws and the decisions of regional bodies. Senior government officials emphasized that protecting the country’s unity, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence always remains the highest and primary priority for the Federal Republic of Somalia.
Accordingly, the Federal Government of Somalia strongly condemned the efforts made by the Somaliland administration—which is located in the northwestern part of the country and which it referred to as the “Northwest Region”—to open an “embassy” in the city of Jerusalem. In its clarification regarding this action, the Mogadishu government stated that the step taken is completely null and void under the law and carries no legal effect. It also characterized the act as a “provocative action” that hurts the sentiments and stance of the Arab and Islamic world, is absolutely unacceptable, and could trigger a major diplomatic crisis.
The statement issued by the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted: “This step is legally void and has no legal basis; it is also an unacceptable provocation to the Arab and Muslim world.” The Ministry further declared that this move in no way reflects the desires and choices of the Somali people, urging all international partners to reject and disregard any requests or petitions for representation submitted by emissaries of this self-proclaimed administration.
Historically, the Federal Government of Somalia has consistently supported the rights of the Palestinian people and believes that the issue of Jerusalem is a final-status matter that must be resolved in accordance with international laws and United Nations resolutions. Since Somalia has repeatedly supported a two-state solution that recognizes East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, Somaliland’s recent move to open an “embassy” directly contradicts the country’s long-standing foreign policy.
It is recalled that in recent months, Somalia has been actively and strongly working to counter other threats leveled against its territorial integrity. The government previously rejected the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Ethiopia and Somaliland as completely null and void, vowing to defend Somalia’s land and maritime borders. This strong condemnation now directed at the Northwest Region’s Jerusalem move aligns with the firm stance taken to resist any actions that divide Somalia’s sovereignty or align with foreign agendas that harm the unity of the Somali people.
Finally, the Federal Republic of Somalia called upon all regional and international bodies, including the Arab League, the African Union, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), to officially reject this provocative act. The Mogadishu government strictly requested that the international community continue to recognize Somalia’s sovereignty in a united and undivided manner based on its 1960 borders.
