Hargeisa (Somalia Today) – Cracks have emerged in Somaliland over Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region, as former president Muse Bihi Abdi questioned President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro’s handling of the issue and opposition figures criticised the opening of a mission in Jerusalem.
The dispute has turned what Hargeisa authorities presented as a diplomatic breakthrough into a growing internal row over secrecy, political credit and the cost of closer ties with Israel.
Bihi, writing on his Facebook page on Thursday, said Irro had misrepresented his record during a meeting of the ruling Waddani party’s central committee.
He said Irro claimed that he had twice announced recognition for Somaliland, first from Guinea-Conakry and later from Ethiopia.
“I never said I had brought recognition from any state,” Bihi said.
“I will not say the elder of the nation lied, but he misunderstood,” he added, using a respectful Somali phrase while sharply rejecting Irro’s remarks.
Israel recognised Somaliland in December, becoming the first UN member state to do so since the region broke away from Somalia in 1991.
Somalia rejects Somaliland’s claim to independence and regards the territory as part of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
Mogadishu, the African Union and several regional powers have condemned Israel’s move as a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Recognition dispute
Bihi did not reject recognition itself. Instead, he said Irro’s administration had distorted his earlier remarks and removed the context of his position.
He quoted himself as saying recognition remained a priority, but that leaders should handle the matter with caution.
“Recognition is the first priority of our country, the Republic of Somaliland,” Bihi said, quoting his earlier comments.
“But I say this matter should be looked at from many sides and considered carefully, so that disagreement does not arise among us.”
Bihi said the presidency had cut and edited his remarks in a way that stripped them of meaning.
He also said comments made by former president Dahir Riyale Kahin had been removed from the public discussion.
“So who made the mistake?” he asked.
Irro had earlier defended the decision to open a Somaliland mission in Jerusalem, calling it final.
“We agreed to open embassies. We opened ours in Jerusalem,” Irro said.
“It was the right decision. It is a decision from which there is no turning back.”
He said the office was opened in West Jerusalem, which he described as land “Arab countries recognise as belonging to Israel”.
The Jerusalem move has added a sensitive religious and regional dimension to the dispute.
Most countries keep their embassies in Israel in Tel Aviv because Jerusalem’s status remains one of the most contested issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israel regards the whole city as its capital, while Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state.
Secret contacts
Bihi also questioned what he described as secrecy around Irro’s contacts with Israel.
“You said you had previously visited Israel while it was kept from the people and the media,” Bihi said.
“You are the first president of the Republic of Somaliland to travel secretly and then later say you made secret trips.”
He questioned why Irro and members of his delegation appeared to travel through different countries before the latest official visit.
“Your last official trip ended with you staying for some time in the United Arab Emirates and departing from there, while your ministerial delegation also stayed for some time in Ethiopia and left from there,” Bihi said.
“Mr President, what brought secrecy and division?”
Irro had earlier mocked Bihi over his reaction to Israel’s recognition, saying the former president had been at his farm when he heard the news.
“You welcomed it, and I thank you for that,” Irro said.
“You were in your farm when they told you. But you ran from the farm,” he added, laughing.
Irro also said Bihi had tried but failed to secure recognition during his presidency.
“My friend Muse tried. I acknowledge that he tried,” Irro said.
“He went to a place called Guinea-Conakry and said he brought recognition, but the recognition is still incomplete. Then came Ethiopia, and Ethiopia is still incomplete.”
“The recognition you were seeking, I have achieved today as president,” he added.
Opposition pressure
The opposition KAAH party also criticised the Jerusalem mission, accusing Irro of abandoning positions he once defended while in opposition.
Mohamoud Hashi Abdi, the chairman of KAAH, told reporters in Hargeisa that his party would not hide its stance.
“KAAH’s position is clear in broad daylight,” Hashi said.
“We will not call the prayer from a teapot, and we will not bury our heads in the ground like traitors.”
Hashi said Irro and his allies had opposed major agreements signed under Bihi, including the 2024 memorandum of understanding with Ethiopia and earlier agreements involving DP World.
“Yesterday they opposed the MOU signed by President Muse, saying they did not know about it and would not support it,” Hashi said.
“They opposed the agreements that were signed, including DP World, when they were in opposition.”
Addressing Irro directly, Hashi said: “Mr President, our position is clear. We say to you and the leaders around you: openly declare that you have abandoned adherence to the national constitution and openly declare that you have abandoned protection of the religious sanctities of this nation.”
KAAH’s criticism followed earlier objections from religious leaders, who rejected closer ties with Israel amid anger over the war in Gaza and concern over Jerusalem.
Old battles return
The row has revived earlier disputes over the breakaway region’s search for recognition.
Bihi travelled to Guinea-Conakry in 2019, a visit that angered Somalia and led Mogadishu to cut diplomatic ties with Conakry. But the trip did not produce formal recognition.
In January 2024, Bihi signed a memorandum of understanding with Ethiopia, raising hopes in Hargeisa of possible recognition by Addis Ababa in exchange for access to the Red Sea coast.
Somalia strongly rejected that deal, calling it an attack on its sovereignty.
Irro, who defeated Bihi in the 2024 election, now argues that his administration has achieved what previous governments could not.
But Bihi and other critics say recognition cannot justify secrecy, selective messaging or domestic division.
The dispute comes as Hargeisa seeks to turn Israel’s disputed recognition into wider diplomatic gains, while Somalia continues to insist that Somaliland remains part of its sovereign territory.
