Wednesday July 1, 2026
Hargeisa (HOL) — Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro on Tuesday defended his administration’s decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem and establish full diplomatic relations with Israel, rejecting criticism from some Islamic countries and the opposition KAAH party.
Speaking in Hargeisa, Irro said the embassy was opened in West Jerusalem, which he described as territory that many countries recognize as part of Israel.
“I was not elected to work for Palestine, but I was elected to work for the interests of Somaliland,” Irro said.
The president said Somaliland had not harmed Palestine and supports the right of Palestinians to determine their own future.
Irro said Somaliland had spent 35 years seeking support and recognition from the international community, including Islamic countries, but had not received a satisfactory response.
He said Somaliland is a Muslim society with brotherly ties to the Islamic world, but Islamic countries have not recognized Somaliland’s existence.
The president noted Israel became the first country to recognize Somaliland, leading to full diplomatic relations between the two sides.
“We are friends with the country that recognized us,” Irro said. “Diplomacy is based on reciprocity. When Israel recognized us, we recognized it.”
Irro emphasized some Islamic countries had opposed Somaliland’s diplomatic steps, including the appointment of an ambassador to Israel and the opening of the embassy in Jerusalem.
Addressing Islamic countries, he said: “We say brothers, we need you, you are our brothers, see us. If you do not see us, at least leave us alone.”
The remarks followed criticism from the opposition KAAH party, which said it supports relations with Israel and welcomes Israel’s recognition of Somaliland but opposes opening the embassy in Jerusalem.
KAAH argued that the decision violated Somaliland’s Constitution, international law and the United Nations Charter, saying the embassy could have been opened elsewhere.
Irro called on Somaliland’s political parties and stakeholders to unite behind the pursuit of international recognition, saying the issue is a national interest that should rise above political differences.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not received broad international recognition. Somalia’s federal government maintains that Somaliland remains part of Somalia.
