By Shire Abdi - Reporter
Somalia, 11 January 2026 — Thousands of women gathered at the Daljirka Dahsoon (Unnamed Soldiers) monument in the heart of Mogadishu on Sunday to protest Israel’s recent recognition of Somaliland, marking a significant escalation in public demonstrations against the diplomatic shift.
The rally, organized by the Banadir Regional Women’s Organization, saw protesters surge through the streets of the capital, effectively shutting down several major arteries leading to the city centre. The demonstrators, including mothers and young women, chanted slogans of national unity and carried banners condemning foreign interference in Somali sovereignty.
The move follows a December 26, 2025, announcement by Israel to formally recognize Somaliland’s independence, a decision that has sparked widespread outrage in Mogadishu.
The Federal Government of Somalia continues to claim Somaliland as part of its territory.
"Fear God and return to your Somali roots," shouted Maryan Abdi-Aziz Aden, a protester in the crowd. " Stop supporting and praising the Jews you are backing. May God guide you."
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The chairperson of the Banadir Regional Women’s Organization, Jawahir Barqab, told reporters at the scene that the mobilization was intended to demonstrate the "strength and sentiment" of Somali women. She characterized the recognition as a threat to the stability of the nation and an attempt to partition the country's land and sea.
Local resident Asli Ahmed Osoble echoed these sentiments, describing the recognition as a strategic move to "destroy and fragment" the Somali state.
The protest reflects a growing tide of nationalism in Mogadishu, as the federal government fights to maintain diplomatic pressure on Israel's actions.
The 2025 recognition by Israel has created a new fault line in the Horn of Africa, as Mogadishu seeks to consolidate its authority while Somaliland pursues further international legitimacy.
