In one of his strongest and most politically charged speeches in recent months,President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud launched a blistering attack against Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Cirro over reports that Somaliland is planning to establish a representative office or diplomatic presence in Jerusalem.
Speaking shortly after Eid prayers, the Somali president delivered an emotionally charged address centered on religion, sovereignty, Palestine, and national unity, warning that Somalia would never tolerate what he described as an attempt to legitimize Israeli control over Jerusalem through Somaliland.
The remarks immediately ignited political debate across Somalia and Somaliland, with many observers describing the speech as one of the harshest public condemnations ever directed at Somaliland by the federal government in relation to the Israel-Palestine issue.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud framed the issue not only as a political matter, but also as a religious and moral red line for Somalia and the Muslim world.
“A flag bearing the words ‘There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah’ cannot be raised by Somaliland in Jerusalem while claiming, ‘We are opening an embassy here,’” the president declared.
“The Somali government says this will not happen and will never happen. They will be stopped.”
The Somali leader repeatedly referenced the Islamic inscription carried on the Somali flag and used it as a symbol of what he called the nation’s religious responsibility toward Jerusalem and Palestine.
In perhaps the most striking part of his address, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said it was “impossible” for Somalia to recognize Jerusalem as Israeli territory.
“It is impossible for Somalia to recognize Baytul-Maqdis as territory belonging to Israel,” he said firmly.
The president went even further, accusing Somaliland of crossing a line that, according to him, even non-Muslim countries had refused to cross.
“Today, it is absolutely impossible for a part of our country to say that they will raise the flag of Israel over Jerusalem while our flag bears the words: ‘There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.’ Even the non-Muslim world was ashamed to say such a thing,” he stated.
His speech appeared carefully crafted to rally both nationalist and religious sentiments, presenting the issue as an attack on Somali unity, Islamic identity, and solidarity with Palestinians.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud also described the reported move by Somaliland as “unfortunate” and “unacceptable,” vowing that Somalia would oppose it politically and diplomatically.
He further intensified his rhetoric by referring to Israel as “an enemy,” accusing it of having “a history of killing people,” while expressing anger at what he described as actions taken by “our brothers in the northern regions of Somalia.”
The remarks come amid growing speculation and diplomatic rumors surrounding Somaliland’s reported interest in strengthening ties with Israel and potentially opening a diplomatic office in Jerusalem a move that would likely trigger enormous controversy across the Horn of Africa and the wider Muslim world.
For Somalia’s federal government, the issue touches directly on questions of sovereignty. Mogadishu does not recognize Somaliland as an independent state and considers it part of Somalia. Any independent foreign policy initiative by Somaliland is therefore viewed by the federal government as unconstitutional and illegitimate.
But beyond the legal and political dimensions, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s speech clearly demonstrated how deeply emotional and symbolic the Jerusalem issue remains within Somali politics.
By invoking religion, Palestine, and Islamic identity during an Eid address, the president appeared determined to frame the matter as more than a diplomatic disagreement. Instead, he portrayed it as a historic and ideological confrontation over the future identity of Somalia itself.
The speech is expected to further heighten tensions between Mogadishu and Hargeisa at a time when relations between the two sides remain fragile and politically sensitive.
Supporters of the federal government praised the president’s remarks as a bold defense of Palestinian rights and Somali sovereignty, while critics argued that the speech risked inflaming divisions and escalating political hostility with Somaliland.
Regardless of the differing reactions, the Eid address has now become one of the most talked-about political moments in Somalia, dominating conversations across social media, political circles, and regional discussions.
With emotions running high and diplomatic speculation continuing to grow, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s explosive remarks have once again thrust the Somalia-Somaliland dispute into the international spotlight this time through the deeply sensitive question of Jerusalem, Israel, and the future direction of Somali politics.