Somalia (Dawan Africa) 27 May 2026 Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said recognizing Jerusalem as part of Israel was “impossible” for the Somali people, stressing that Somalis — historically described as “People of the Quran” — reject such positions and could never accept them.
The president made the remarks in a speech delivered after Eid prayers, addressing “the Somali people in general, and citizens in northern Somalia in particular,” while calling for resistance against any decisions or positions he said contradicted Islamic values and principles.
“This does not represent us, and we do not accept it. It is not fitting for us to remain silent about such a disgrace,” the president said, adding that those taking such decisions should be brought “back to the right path.”
He warned that such positions “would lead to grave consequences,” reiterating that Somalis “will never recognize Jerusalem as belonging to Israel.”
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In response, Somaliland separatist leader Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro reacted to the Somali president’s remarks during a separate Eid address in Gabiley, the regional capital.
“I listened to the statements of the president of Somalia — our neighboring state — speaking about Somaliland and claiming: ‘We will not allow the Somaliland flag to be raised in Jerusalem,’” Irro said.
“My response to Hassan Sheikh is this: the moment has already passed you, and you no longer possesses any leverage that would allow you to control the situation or impose authority in any way,” he added.
The exchange comes amid ongoing tensions between Somalia’s federal government and the separatist Somaliland administration over sovereignty, political recognition and relations with Israel.

