By Mohamed Abdi - Reporter
Somalia, 31 December 2025 The President of the North East State, Abdiqadir Ahmed Ali, has denied existence of secessionist tensions in Somalia’s northern regions, stressing that such sentiments are confined to parts of north-west and do not reflect the common perception of northern communities.
Speaking at a Heritage Forum, on Tuesday, night the president said lumping northern regions together and labeling them as secessionist is misleading, and called for an end to such rhetoric.
“Secessionist tensions do not exist in the northern regions of Somalia,” he said. “This is an issue confined to parts of the north-west. I come from the northern regions and we are not secessionist. Let us stop expanding this label.”
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He warned against using language that generalizes secessionism across all northern regions, saying such discourse could fuel division and distort the political reality on the ground.
The president urged Somali politicians and analysts to clearly distinguish between the political positions of specific areas and the broader will of northern communities, emphasizing that many northern regions remain committed to Somalia’s unity and the federal system.
His remarks come amid heightened debate over Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, a move the Somali government has described as illegal and a threat to regional stability, and which has drawn diplomatic support for Somalia from several organizations and countries.
