This opinion piece delivers a direct political message to Somalia’s federal leadership in Mogadishu and the citizens of Somalia, arguing that Somaliland’s withdrawal from the failed 1960 union was lawful, legitimate, and irreversible.
The author, Engineer Abdi Ali Barkhad, contends that Somaliland did not secede but instead restored its original sovereignty after the collapse of the Somali state and decades of marginalization and violence.
Contrasting Somaliland’s stability, democratic governance, and growing international engagement with Somalia’s ongoing challenges—including insecurity, corruption, and the continued threat of Al-Shabaab—the article urges Villa Somalia to abandon fixation on Somaliland and focus instead on resolving its internal crises.
It further argues that Somaliland’s pursuit of recognition, including potential recognition by Israel, reflects political reality and regional strategic value rather than provocation, concluding that Somaliland’s chosen path forward is settled and enduring.
The complete piece is as follows:
A Firm Political Message to the Villa Somalia Government and the Citizens of Mogadishu
By Eng. Abdi Ali Barkhad
This message is directed clearly and unequivocally to both the people of Somalia and the political leadership operating from Villa Somalia.
Let the historical record be stated without distortion: the Somali union originated on 26 June 1960, when Somaliland attained its independence from the United Kingdom and voluntarily entered into a union that was later ratified. That union failed politically, legally, and morally. Somaliland did not collapse; it withdrew from a broken arrangement and restored the sovereignty it once possessed. This reality cannot be erased by propaganda, emotional rhetoric, or external pressure.
Today, instead of obsessively targeting Somaliland, the Villa Somalia leadership should confront its own deep and unresolved crises. Somalia remains trapped in insecurity, institutional collapse, and chronic corruption. Large parts of the country are still under the control of Al‑Shabaab, while the federal system remains fragmented, mistrusted, and internally conflicted. These failures rest squarely on the shoulders of the political elite governing from Mogadishu.
Somaliland is not the problem. Somaliland is not a distraction. Somaliland is not negotiable.
While Somaliland has built functioning institutions, preserved internal peace, and sustained democratic practices, Villa Somalia continues to recycle weak leadership, corruption networks, and dependency on foreign agendas. The political energy spent attacking Somaliland would be far better invested in unifying Somalia’s federal member states, restoring legitimacy, and dismantling extremist networks that threaten regional stability.
To those, including Faysal Roble, who repeatedly raise narratives about alleged Israeli engagement with Somaliland: such claims are politically selective and intellectually dishonest. International engagement is a sovereign right exercised by all political actors, including Somalia itself. Moreover, growing global interest in Somaliland reflects its stability, strategic relevance, and responsible governance. Attempts to weaponize these narratives merely expose insecurity and serve as distractions from internal failure.
Let this be stated clearly and without ambiguity: Somaliland will not retreat, renegotiate its existence, nor surrender its political trajectory. Its people have made their choice through sacrifice, reconciliation, and decades of self-governance. That choice is irreversible.
The leadership in Mogadishu must abandon hostility, propaganda, and denial, and instead confront the real task before them: rescuing Somalia from corruption, extremism, and institutional paralysis. History will not be kind to leaders who waste time fighting political realities instead of serving their people.
Somaliland will continue moving forward, firm, determined, and unapologetic in its pursuit of sovereignty and international recognition.
Israel’s potential recognition of the Republic of Somaliland would represent a historic breakthrough and a powerful gateway for wider international engagement. Such a step would not only inspire hope among the people of Somaliland but would also open the door for other states to reassess their positions and move toward formal diplomatic relations.
History carries important symbolism in this context. In 1960, Israel was among the earliest states to establish diplomatic engagement with Somaliland at the time of its independence. That early interaction remains an important reference point in Somaliland’s diplomatic memory. If, in the current global context of 2025, Israel were to once again take the lead by recognizing Somaliland, it would send a strong political signal that stability, democratic governance, and responsibility matter in international relations.
Since reclaiming its sovereignty in 1991, Somaliland has demonstrated remarkable resilience. It has built functioning institutions, maintained relative peace, conducted multiple elections, and ensured internal security in one of the most volatile regions of the world. These achievements distinguish Somaliland clearly from the prolonged instability affecting southern Somalia.
Recognition by Israel would not merely be symbolic; it would represent a strategic acknowledgment of Somaliland’s role in regional security, trade, and geopolitical balance in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea corridor. Such a step would likely encourage other nations, particularly those that value stability, counterterrorism cooperation, and reliable partnerships, to reconsider their hesitation and engage Somaliland more openly.
Ultimately, recognition is not a favor but a reflection of political reality. Somaliland has earned its place through decades of self-governance, sacrifice, and responsible leadership. Any future recognition by Israel would therefore serve as a catalyst, reinforcing Somaliland’s long-standing claim to international legitimacy and accelerating its path toward broader global acceptance.
Somaliland will continue moving forward, firm, determined, and unapologetic in its pursuit of sovereignty and international recognition.
