HARGEISA (SD) – The Government of the Republic of Somaliland has strongly condemned statements issued by Somalia, which called for external military intervention against Somaliland.

This was stated in a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Somaliland, which read as follows:

“The Government of the Republic of Somaliland strongly condemns the recent statements issued by the Government of Somalia, which called for external military intervention against the Republic of Somaliland.

Somalia’s call is a serious and irresponsible step that clearly violates the charters and laws of the United Nations and the principles of international law.

The Republic of Somaliland is not subordinate to nor does it fall under the administration of Mogadishu. Somaliland lawfully regained its independence in 1991, adhering to its internationally recognized 1960 borders, and has since maintained peace, stability, and democratic governance.

The Government of the Republic of Somaliland holds the Government of Somalia fully responsible for the consequences arising from this provocative call. It also urges the international community to reject such statements unequivocally.

The Government of the Republic of Somaliland reaffirms its commitment to peace and to its right to self-defence in accordance with international law.”

This statement is a direct and calibrated response to President Hassan Sheikh’s recent, more bellicose language (e.g., not ruling out the “use of force”). Somaliland is framing Somalia’s rhetoric not as defensive posturing but as an active call for aggression, which allows it to claim the moral and legal high ground as a victim of incitement to violence.

The statement meticulously restates Somaliland’s foundational claim: independence based on the pre-union 1960 borders, legally reclaimed in 1991. This is the core of its legalistic argument for statehood, distinguishing it from a mere “breakaway region.”

Somaliland’s response is a masterclass in diplomatic judo, using the force of Somalia’s own arguments (international law, sovereignty) against it. It successfully reframes the conflict. Somalia is no longer the victim defending its unity but the aggressor inciting war. This statement is designed to put Mogadishu on the defensive in international forums, complicate the efforts of Somalia’s allies to provide military support, and reassure Somaliland’s population and its new ally, Israel, of its resolve and legitimacy.

The battle has decisively shifted from a struggle for recognition to a contest over who is violating the rules-based international order. The international community’s reaction to this exchange will be crucial in determining whether the path forward is one of renewed dialogue or dangerous militarization.