Somaliland recognition 'threatens' region's stability

Israel's recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland is a “threat” to security and stability in the Horn of Africa and encourages secessionist groups, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Sunday.

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Somalis step on a torn image depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a protest in Hodan district of Mogadishu on Sunday.

(REUTERS)

Israel announced on Friday it was officially recognising Somaliland, a first for the self-proclaimed republic that in 1991 declared it had unilaterally separated from Somalia.

Addressing an emergency parliamentary session, Mr Mohamud said the move was “tantamount to a blunt aggression against the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and the unity of the people of the Somali Republic”.

He added that “the violations of [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and his attempts to divide the Federal Republic of Somalia is [a] threat to the security and stability of the world and the region, and encourage the hardline groups and secessionist movements, which exist or can exist in many regions of the world”.