By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Somalia, 1 January 2026 The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs of the Federal Government of Somalia has instructed all imams to address the issue of Somali sovereignty and the controversial recognition of Somaliland by Israel in their Friday sermons tomorrow.
A notice issued by the ministry to all mosque imams across Somalia urged them to emphasize the importance of national unity and the potential threats posed by foreign interventions, particularly Israel-Somaliland agreement.
The Somali government aims to unite all sectors of society with this initiative, especially after Somali scholars rejected Israel's recognition of Somaliland, which they deemed a direct threat to Somalia's sovereignty, territorial unity, and religious integrity.
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Israel officially recognized Somaliland as an independent state on December 26, 2025, after a teleconference between Israel's Prime Minister and the President of Somaliland.
The Somali government vehemently opposed the move, describing it as a serious threat to territorial integrity and stability in the Horn of Africa.
Several countries that maintain strong ties with Somalia also condemned Israel's action, calling it a violation of international law. The Somali government has firmly stated that it will not allow the forced relocation of Palestinians to its territories, nor will it accept any attempts to disrupt its territorial integrity.
