Demonstrators began by singing the Somali national anthem. Condemning Israel’s move, they stressed Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, shouting slogans such as “Somalia is indivisible” and “Somaliland is Somalia.”
Security forces were deployed in large numbers to maintain order.
Mohamed Abor, one of the prosecutors, said that Somalia has never relinquished its territory and would not do so now.
Stressing that there is no Somali land that can be given to Israel or any other country, he said: “Somalia is one and will remain one,” adding that Somalis are ready to make any sacrifice for their country.
Another protester, Abdi Ismail, said Israel’s decision was unacceptable to the Somali people.
Calling the decision “a clear attack on Somalia‘s sovereignty,” Abdi said that Somaliland is an inseparable part of the country.
“No country has the right to recognize it unilaterally,” he said.
Abdi added that the international community should not remain silent in the face of the decision.
Yemen Houthis Warn Israeli Presence in Somaliland
The leader of Yemen’s Houthi group warned Sunday that any Israeli presence in Somaliland would be considered a military target by his forces.
In a written statement, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as a separate entity from Somalia was a “hostile act,” adding that it targets not only Somalia but also neighboring African countries, Yemen and all nations bordering the Red Sea.
Emphasizing that Israel’s recognition has no legal or political validity, al-Houthi said: “This declaration comes from an occupying power that has no legitimacy even for itself and holds no value on the scales of justice and law. This step, taken with hostile intentions and an aggressive agenda, is completely invalid.”
He said Israel aims to turn Somaliland into a base for hostile activities against Somalia, other African countries, Yemen and the Arab world, warning that this poses a threat to the security of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Stressing that Houthi support for the Somali people is “unshakable,” he said: “We will take all possible measures to stand with our brothers, the Somali people. This includes considering any Israeli presence in Somaliland a military target for our armed forces. This constitutes an attack on Somalia and Yemen and an open threat to regional security, and it must be met with firm resistance.”
Al-Houthi underscored that they will not allow any part of Somalia to become a foothold for Israel at the expense of the East African nation’s security, independence and sovereignty.
Calling on countries on both sides of the Red Sea as well as the Arab and Islamic world, al-Houthi urged concrete steps to prevent Israel from violating the sovereignty of Somalia and other Muslim and independent countries.
The Iran-backed Houthis have for the past two years launched ballistic missile and drone attacks against Israel in response to Israel’s operations against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, particularly targeting Israeli-owned ships or vessels bound for Israel in the Red Sea.
In response, Israel has carried out dozens of airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, causing extensive destruction, especially in the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa. The attacks have resulted in the deaths of key figures from the Sanaa-based Yemeni government and several senior members of the group.
Israel became the first United Nations member state to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state on Friday, drawing condemnation from Turkey, a close ally of Somalia, and countries in Africa and the Middle East, among others.
Somaliland, which has lacked official recognition since declaring independence from Somalia in 1991, operates as a de facto independent administrative, political and security entity, with the central government struggling to assert control over the region and its leadership unable to secure international recognition of independence.
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