Hargeisa (Somalia Today) – Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi “Irro” has rejected high-level diplomatic overtures from Arab states seeking to dismantle a controversial recognition deal with Israel, sources close to the presidency told Somalia Today on Friday.
The rebuff comes amid a flurry of quiet diplomacy led by Saudi Arabia intended to de-escalate soaring tensions in the Horn of Africa, following Israel’s shock recognition of the breakaway region late last month.
According to officials familiar with the discussions, foreign ministers from two key Arab nations held telephone talks with Irro earlier this week, presenting proposals to halt the establishment of formal ties between Hargeisa and the Jewish state.
The diplomatic push appears driven by regional fears that the deal could grant Israel a military foothold on the strategic Gulf of Aden, a prospect that has alarmed Cairo and Riyadh.
Arab officials fear that Israel’s recognition could open the door to an expanded security footprint along Somalia’s northern coastline, potentially drawing the Horn of Africa deeper into Middle Eastern rivalries.
However, sources said the Somaliland leader refused to entertain discussions regarding the pact.
“President Irro made it clear to the ministers that relations with Israel are a closed national decision and are not among the points up for negotiation,” a source in Hargeisa said on condition of anonymity.
Condition for talks
Somaliland, a former British protectorate, declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but had lacked international recognition until Israel’s December 26 announcement.
The move has infuriated the federal government in Mogadishu, which considers Somaliland part of its territory and has since severed security pacts with the United Arab Emirates, accusing Abu Dhabi of orchestrating the deal.
The African Union Commission also said it “rejects any recognition of Somaliland” and reaffirmed its support for Somalia’s unity.
During the phone calls, Irro reportedly laid down a strict precondition for any future dialogue regarding regional stability.
“The President emphasised that anyone wishing to speak with Somaliland must first recognise it as a fully sovereign state,” the source added. “He ruled out any dealings that treat Somaliland as a region of Somalia.”
While the specific Arab nations involved were not named, the talks are understood to be part of a broader Saudi-led initiative.
Riyadh, which has recently strengthened ties with Mogadishu, is seeking to mediate a solution that preserves Somalia’s territorial integrity while preventing the Red Sea—a vital global shipping lane—from becoming a new theatre of conflict involving Israeli forces.
Red Sea rivalries
The standoff has drawn in major powers, creating a complex web of alliances.
Egypt has deployed naval assets and military advisers to Mogadishu, viewing the Israel-Somaliland coordination as a threat to its national security and the Suez Canal. Conversely, the UAE and Ethiopia have maintained close ties with Hargeisa.
Officials in Mogadishu confirmed to Somalia Today that they were aware of the regional mediation efforts.
“We know there is a regional push to convince Hargeisa to walk back this violation of sovereignty, but our position remains that Somalia is one and indivisible,” a federal government official said.
Somaliland officials have defended the recognition as a sovereign diplomatic breakthrough, while denying any plans to allow foreign military deployments.
The sources said the recent Arab outreach ended with an understanding that talks would resume at a later stage, with a focus on regional stability and Red Sea security, though no timeline was agreed upon.
