Somali President Rejects Netanyahu's Recognition of 'Somaliland' and Warns Against Importing Middle East Chaos

The Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud affirmed his country's categorical rejection of the announcement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recognizing what is known as the state of "Somaliland," and expressed his rejection of transferring the chaos and conflicts carried out by Israel in the Middle East to his country.

Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud said in a speech before parliament today, Sunday, that Netanyahu's recognition of Somaliland is a rejected violation of Somalia's sovereignty and an aggression on its unity, confirming that the Israeli step does not change the legal reality at all.

The Somali President warned that this step could encourage separatist tendencies in the region.

He called on the leaders of the northern regions not to drag the country into "wrong paths," affirming the government's commitment to the option of dialogue with the "brothers in the north."

The Somali President said: "We affirm our rejection of any attempts to displace the Palestinians and support their right to establish their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital."

Netanyahu had announced the day before yesterday, Friday, that Tel Aviv recognizes the separatist "Republic of Somaliland" as an independent state, making Israel the first country in the world to officially recognize the region that unilaterally declared its secession from Somalia in 1991.