By Zakaria Hassan - Reporter
Somalia, January 7 2026 Hundreds of residents led by influential religious leaders gathered at the Daljirka Dahsoon monument in Mogadishu on Wednesday to protest Israel’s recent recognition of Somaliland as an independent state.
The demonstration, organized by the Somali Clerics Council, marks the third major protest in the capital since Israel’s Dec. 26 announcement. Protesters carried banners affirming Somali unity and chanting slogans labeling Israel an "enemy" of the state.
"This recognition is a threat to the stability of the Horn of Africa," Ali Mohamud Hassan, spokesperson for the Somali Clerics Council, told the Dawan Africa. "It provides a pretext for extremist groups to infiltrate the north under the guise of fighting a 'foreign occupation,' potentially destroying the relative peace Somaliland has enjoyed."
The council warned that Israeli presence in Hargeisa or the port of Berbera could invite regional spillover, specifically citing potential strikes from Houthi rebels in Yemen who have previously targeted Israeli interests in the Red Sea.
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"We care for the security of our brothers in the north. Political grievances must be solved through internal dialogue, not by inviting foreign entities that violate the African Union’s principle of territorial integrity," Hassan added.
The Somali federal government has previously called the Israeli recognition "null and void," asserting that Somaliland remains a legal part of Somalia.
The Clerics Council announced that upcoming Friday sermons across the country will be dedicated to condemning the move and advocating for national unity.
