Imaginary Maps, Real Failure: Why Mogadishu’s ‘Sovereignty’ Talk Rings Hollow.

Somalia’s National Consultative Council (NCC) has issued a fierce condemnation of Israel’s recognition of Somaliland. The language is dramatic. The substance is empty.

While President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his regional leaders remain unable to convene a basic political meeting in Mogadishu, the federal government insists it retains “sovereignty” over Hargeisa. This is a claim made from a capital whose airport road still requires foreign troops for protection. Sovereignty, in Somalia’s case, has become a word divorced from reality.

The NCC argues that Israel’s decision “threatens regional security” in the Red Sea. This assertion collapses under even minimal scrutiny. Somaliland’s Coast Guard is the only credible local force securing the Berbera corridor against piracy, trafficking, and smuggling. Mogadishu, by contrast, remains the primary battleground of Al-Shabaab—the single most destabilizing terrorist network in East Africa.

For a government that hosts the region’s most lethal extremist threat to lecture a stable, democratic polity on security is not merely ironic; it is an insult to intelligence.

The call for “national unity” follows a familiar script. When a state cannot provide safety, electricity, or employment, it manufactures an external enemy. Somaliland now fills that role. Israel’s recognition is labeled “illegal,” not because it violates international law, but because it punctures a lucrative fiction.

Somaliland is a functioning state in every material sense: it issues passports, runs elections, maintains security forces, and governs within defined borders. Somalia operates under a provisional constitution that has never fully taken effect and a federal system increasingly at war with itself.

What truly alarms Mogadishu is not Jerusalem or the Red Sea. It is money. The “Somalia” brand sustains a multibillion-dollar aid economy. Acknowledging that Somaliland is the only durable political success to emerge from the 1960 union threatens that revenue stream and the elite class dependent on it.

The NCC statement is the diplomatic equivalent of a “No Trespassing” sign nailed to a house abandoned in 1991. The world has moved on. The Hargeisa–Jerusalem axis looks forward—toward trade, technology, and security cooperation. Mogadishu remains trapped in nostalgia, clinging to an imaginary map and a failed union.

Somaliland did not break away. It moved up. The sooner Mogadishu focuses on governing its own streets instead of policing reality elsewhere, the better for everyone.

UN Security Council Splits as Israel Defends Somaliland Recognition, US Slams Double Standards.

The United Nations Security Council descended into open confrontation after Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland triggered an emergency session requested by Somalia — a move that exposed deep global divisions over sovereignty, recognition, and political hypocrisy.

The United States delivered the most forceful intervention. Deputy US Ambassador Tammy Bruce accused the Security Council of applying blatant “double standards,” noting that no emergency meeting was convened when several European states unilaterally recognized a Palestinian state earlier this year. “Israel has the right to recognize the independence of Somaliland,” Bruce said, stressing that while US policy has not formally changed, Israel’s sovereign right to conduct diplomacy should not be questioned.

Pakistan also weighed in, calling the recognition “deeply troubling,” while Arab League representatives warned Israel against exploiting Red Sea ports or establishing military footholds near Yemen.

Israel, however, stood firm. It reiterated that recognition after 34 years of de facto independence is neither an act of aggression nor a violation of international law. The timing is strategic: Somaliland sits along the Gulf of Aden, opposite Yemen, near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait — a maritime chokepoint now central to global trade disruption following Houthi attacks.

What unfolded at the UN was more than a procedural debate. It was a collision between narratives and geopolitical reality. For Somaliland, Israel’s move is a historic breakthrough. For Israel, it is a calculated entry into one of the world’s most sensitive strategic corridors.

And for the UN, the emergency session revealed an uncomfortable truth: recognition is less about law — and more about power.

From Minnesota Fraud to Mogadishu Politics: Ilhan Omar’s Somaliland Problem.

Rep. Ilhan Omar’s long-standing opposition to recognizing Somaliland is coming under renewed scrutiny as federal investigations expose billions of dollars in alleged fraud tied to government programs in her home state of Minnesota.

Critics argue the contrast is stark: while Somalia remains mired in corruption and institutional failure, Somaliland—an autonomous, self-governing territory Omar opposes recognizing—has built relative stability, democratic institutions, and internal accountability over more than three decades.

Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, says the unfolding Minnesota scandal highlights why Somaliland’s case matters now. “The corruption exposed in Minnesota mirrors the governance failures that have plagued Somalia for decades,” Rubin said. “Somaliland has charted a different course entirely, relying on accountability rather than endless aid.”

Since 2018, fraud losses across Minnesota social programs are estimated to reach into the billions, according to the WARYATV. Federal authorities have already dismantled the $250 million “Feeding Our Future” scheme, producing 78 indictments. FBI Director Kash Patel has described the case as only “the tip of a very large iceberg.”

Omar has defended her backing of the MEALS Act, legislation critics say weakened oversight later exploited by fraud networks. But Rubin argues the issue goes beyond domestic policy. He says Omar’s Somalia-focused worldview shapes her foreign policy positions, including her resistance to legitimizing Somaliland.

“She left Somalia, but Somalia never left her,” Rubin said, pointing to Omar’s Somali-language speeches in which she refers to Somalia—not the United States—as her home. He argues clan politics, not U.S. strategic interests, drive her stance against Somaliland.

Meanwhile, Somaliland’s profile is rising. The territory has maintained internal security, conducted elections, and avoided the chaos gripping southern Somalia. It has deepened ties with Israel and signaled interest in joining the Abraham Accords, positioning itself as a pragmatic partner for Western and regional security interests.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently announced Israel’s formal recognition of Somaliland, making it the first UN member state to do so. Rubin says the more policymakers examine the record, the harder it becomes to justify Washington’s approach. “Why keep sending billions to a failed system while ignoring a partner that governs itself?” he asked.

President Donald Trump has said he is “studying” the issue as Netanyahu prepares to raise it in talks this week. According to Rubin, the logic fits Trump’s worldview perfectly: “Somaliland is business-friendly, security-focused, and wants partnerships—not permanent aid. By any reasonable metric, recognizing Somaliland makes sense.”

As investigations deepen in Minnesota, Omar’s opposition to Somaliland is no longer just a foreign policy footnote—it is becoming a political liability that underscores a broader question: Why defend failed systems while dismissing one of the Horn of Africa’s rare success stories?

Taiwan has openly welcomed Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland as a sovereign state, standing apart from the United States, the European Union, and much of Europe, which continue to back Somalia’s territorial claims.

In a statement issued Sunday, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described Taiwan, Israel, and Somaliland as “like-minded democratic partners” united by shared values of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. Taipei said Israel’s move would pave the way for deeper three-way cooperation across multiple sectors.

Taiwan’s support reflects its steadily growing relationship with Somaliland, which has operated as a de facto independent state since 1991 despite Somalia’s objections. In 2020, Taiwan opened a representative office in Hargeisa, with Somaliland reciprocating by establishing an office in Taipei—a move that drew sharp criticism from Beijing but marked a diplomatic milestone for both sides.

Since then, Taiwan and Somaliland have expanded cooperation in medicine, education, agriculture, telecommunications, security, and energy development. Most recently, the two signed an agreement in July to strengthen coast guard cooperation, jointly safeguarding navigation in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden—one of the world’s most strategic maritime corridors.

Israel’s recognition last week made it the first UN member state to formally recognize Somaliland’s sovereignty, triggering protests from Somalia, Egypt, and Turkey, all of which warned that recognizing Somaliland threatens international stability.

US President Donald Trump said he does not intend to immediately follow Israel’s lead, while the European Union reiterated its support for Somalia’s territorial integrity.

Taiwan’s endorsement, however, sends a different signal: that democratic alignment and strategic cooperation can outweigh diplomatic pressure. As the list of supporters grows, Somaliland’s once-isolated bid for recognition is rapidly turning into a geopolitical test case—one that Taiwan, Israel, and Hargeisa are now advancing together.

After Israel, India Steps Forward: Somaliland Emerges as New Pivot in the Indian Ocean.

India is quietly emerging as the most likely next major power to recognize the Republic of Somaliland—and the logic behind the shift is strategic, maritime, and unmistakably geopolitical.

As New Delhi accelerates its push for influence across the Western Indian Ocean and Red Sea, Somaliland has moved from the margins of India’s Africa policy to its center. The driver is not ideology, but competition—above all with China.

At the heart of India’s interest lies Berbera Port.

India’s ambitions align neatly with Somaliland’s geography. Somaliland controls an 850-kilometer coastline along the Gulf of Aden, adjacent to one of the world’s most vital shipping corridors. India already deploys anti-piracy warships in these waters. A deeper relationship with Somaliland would transform patrols into presence—and influence into leverage.

The timing matters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Addis Ababa reinforced India’s strategic courtship of Ethiopia, Africa’s largest landlocked market and Somaliland’s primary trade partner. Ethiopia is already shifting major volumes of commerce to Berbera under a historic agreement with Hargeisa. For India, access to Ethiopia via Berbera is not a side benefit—it is the prize.

Indian policy institutions have been explicit: Somaliland is a gateway to counter China’s dominance along East Africa’s coast. New Delhi sees Berbera as a potential commercial hub, logistics corridor, and even future naval foothold—one capable of balancing Chinese and Pakistani-linked influence stretching from the Horn to Mozambique and the Congo.

The political case is equally compelling. Somaliland is stable, democratic, and pro-Western—an anomaly in a volatile region. Its capital, Hargeisa, already hosts consulates and liaison offices from key regional and global players. It recognized Taiwan in 2020, absorbing sustained pressure from Beijing without retreat. That stance has earned quiet admiration in New Delhi, which views Somaliland as a natural partner in the broader Indo-Pacific contest.

Trade ties already exist. Somaliland imports pharmaceuticals, machinery, fuel, vehicles, and consumer goods from India, making New Delhi one of its top trading partners by container volume. What is missing is not commerce—but recognition.

India also sees an opportunity to strengthen its relationship with the UAE, a fellow BRICS member and the principal investor behind Berbera’s expansion and free trade zone. The UAE’s role in co-developing the Berbera Corridor with Ethiopia fits neatly into India’s vision of diversified, non-Chinese supply chains across Africa.

Somaliland cannot hold off Chinese pressure indefinitely on its own. If India wants to prevent Beijing from eventually prying Hargeisa away from Taiwan—and absorbing Berbera into China’s maritime orbit—New Delhi must move decisively.

Recognition would do more than secure influence. It would unlock Indian private investment, boost Somaliland’s economy, and offer African states a visible alternative to China’s debt-driven model. In strategic terms, it would mark the beginning of a pax-India along the East African coast.

Israel broke the diplomatic ice. India now stands at the edge of a consequential decision—one that could redefine the balance of power from the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean, with Somaliland at its center.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement has issued a direct threat following Israel’s historic recognition of Somaliland, warning it would treat “any Israeli presence in Somaliland as a military target.”

In a speech broadcast Sunday by the Houthi-run Saba News Agency, the group’s leader Sayyed Abdulmalik al-Houthi accused Israel of seeking the “disintegration and fragmentation of other countries” and framed the recognition as a threat to both Somalia and Yemen.

“We emphasize our firm stand with the brotherly Somali people against Israel,” al-Houthi said, adding that the Houthis would take “all possible support measures” in response. He ended by calling on Yemenis to rally behind the Palestinian cause, claiming failure to do so would open the door to what he described as Israeli “conspiracies” worldwide.

The warning comes days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally recognized the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, making Israel the first UN member country to do so. Netanyahu said the move was made “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords,” launched under former US President Donald Trump.

Somaliland has functioned as a separate, stable state since 1991, following the collapse of Somalia, and has maintained peace, democratic elections, and internal security for more than three decades. Mogadishu has consistently lobbied international actors to block recognition of Somaliland.

Hargeisa views Israel’s decision as a diplomatic breakthrough that could encourage other nations to follow, expanding Somaliland’s international standing and access to global markets. The Houthi threat now underscores the wider regional stakes, as Red Sea tensions and Middle East conflicts increasingly intersect with the Horn of Africa’s shifting geopolitical landscape.

Hamas Is Finished, but the Houthis Remain

Houthis Threaten Global Stability: How Long Can the World Ignore Them?

Terror and Exploitation: The Dark Role of the Houthis’ Female Brigade

The Secret Maritime Corridor Linking Yemen’s Houthis to Somalia’s Militants

From London to Hargeisa: A British Statesman Backs Somaliland’s Recognition.

Sir Michael Ellis’s argument in support of Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, framed through the perspective of a committed friend of Somaliland’s sovereignty.

In a world where much of international diplomacy is bogged down in ideology and inertia, Israel’s recognition of Somaliland stands out as a bold and clear-eyed decision rooted in realpolitik—and one that Britain should eagerly embrace as well.

Sir Michael Ellis, a seasoned British politician with deep experience in law and governance, sees in Somaliland not a quixotic diplomatic gamble but a practical partner with a clear track record of responsible statehood. What sets Somaliland apart, Ellis argues, is that it is a nation that actually exists—politically stable, democratically governed, and strategically positioned at a critical global crossroads.

Israel’s decision to grant formal recognition to Somaliland, made in the spirit of pragmatic alliance over ideological posturing, highlights what supportive observers have long known: Somaliland is more than an unrecognized entity. It is a functioning state with institutions, elections, and a commitment to the rule of law. Recognizing it isn’t symbolic—it is strategically smart.

Ellis’s endorsement of Israel’s move reflects an appreciation for diplomacy that prioritizes outcomes over posturing. Just as Israel has demonstrated a willingness to recalibrate relations with countries based on concrete interests and shared security concerns, so too should Britain. Whereas some European states have responded to Middle East tensions with diplomatic withdrawal, Israel has quietly and effectively expanded its global engagement—including new ties with Bolivia and Fiji—even as it addresses more vociferous critics closer to home.

The strategic value of Somaliland is unmistakable. Situated on the Gulf of Aden near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Somaliland commands entry to one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes. In a region where Iran-aligned forces have sought to disrupt maritime traffic, the stability of Somaliland and its friendly orientation toward the West make it an indispensable partner.

For the UK, a country with historic ties to the former British Somaliland Protectorate and a vested interest in maritime security, formal recognition would be both pragmatic and principled.

Sir Michael points to Somaliland’s peaceful democratic traditions as another reason for Britain’s support. Unlike many neighbors, Somaliland has consistently held elections, maintained internal security, and embraced pluralism. These are not abstract virtues; they are the foundations of lasting partnerships.

Ellis also highlights the legal case for recognition. Somaliland was a British protectorate granted independence in 1960. Its union with Somalia that followed was never consummated through fully ratified legal instruments, and decades later, Somaliland chose to restore its independence. This is not secession from a functioning sovereign—a legal fiction often invoked in secession debates—but a well-grounded return to sovereignty that once existed and can exist again under law.

Perhaps most compellingly, Ellis notes that the hesitation of Western governments to recognize Somaliland has less to do with legal merit than with political caution—an aversion to upsetting fragile regional relationships or confronting uncomfortable strategic realities. Yet as Israel’s move shows, diplomatic courage can unlock opportunities that complacency simply forecloses.

By recognizing Somaliland, Britain would not merely salute a historical fact; it would affirm shared values, deepen ties with a reliable partner, and signal to the world that democratic achievement and responsible governance still matter. It would underscore a commitment to security and prosperity in a region too often associated with instability.

For Sir Michael Ellis, the question is not whether Somaliland deserves recognition. It is whether Britain has the wisdom and strategic clarity to stand with an emerging nation whose future promises to enhance—not undermine—global stability.

In that light, the answer seems not only obvious, but overdue.

UN Security Council in Emergency Session After Israel Recognizes Somaliland.

The UN Security Council will convene an emergency meeting in New York on Monday following Israel’s formal recognition of Somaliland, a move that has triggered sharp diplomatic backlash from Somalia.

The session was requested by Mogadishu, which has long opposed any international recognition of Somaliland and has repeatedly lobbied global institutions to block such moves. Israel’s decision on Friday made it the first UN member state to officially recognize Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state since it reclaimed independence in 1991.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the recognition was made “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords” and at the initiative of US President Donald Trump, framing it as part of a broader realignment linking Middle Eastern and Red Sea security interests.

While Trump later told the New York Post that the United States would not immediately follow Israel’s recognition, Netanyahu reportedly informed Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro) that he is scheduled to meet Trump this week—raising expectations in Hargeisa that Washington’s position may soon evolve.

Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, dismissed Somalia’s push as an attempt to undermine a sovereign decision. “Israel will act responsibly and with discretion, while not shying away from political discussions that seek to challenge sovereign decisions,” Danon said, adding that Israel will continue working with partners that support regional stability.

For Somaliland, the UNSC session is both a challenge and a signal. Hargeisa views Israel’s recognition as the opening of the diplomatic floodgates, hoping it will encourage other nations to follow and finally break its decades-long isolation.

As the Security Council prepares to debate the issue, the message from Hargeisa is that the question is no longer whether Somaliland exists, but how long the international system can continue to deny a political reality now openly acknowledged by a UN member state.