BRUSSELS (SD) – The armed opposition movement in Djibouti known as the Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD) has released a comprehensive statement expressing support for the recognition of the Republic of Somaliland and condemning the interference by Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh in Somaliland’s affairs and in neighboring countries.

The statement, signed by the movement’s leader, Mr. Mohamed Kadamy, strongly endorsed the right to independence and recognition held by the people of Somaliland. It also warned against interference by Ismail Omar Guelleh in the Republic of Somaliland.

This statement is a significant and expected development. An armed opposition group from a neighboring country, particularly one from Djibouti—a key regional actor and chair of IGAD—publicly taking Somaliland’s side is a major Diplomatic victory for Hargeisa. It internationalizes and legitimizes Somaliland’s cause by framing it as a shared struggle against oppressive governance, extending the conflict beyond the Somalia-Somaliland binary.

Djibouti has been a vocal supporter of Somalia’s territorial integrity and a critic of Israel’s recognition of Somaliland. This statement from an armed group within its own borders severely undermines Djibouti’s moral and political authority on the issue. It exposes internal divisions and suggests that Djibouti’s official position may not reflect the views of all its political factions, weakening its voice in regional forums like IGAD and the AU.

The FRUD statement is a potent indicator that the Somaliland recognition issue is becoming a catalyst for wider regional discussion. It demonstrates that the issue is breaking out of its traditional confines and beginning to reshape alliances across the Horn.

While FRUD’s direct influence may be limited, its move symbolizes how Somaliland’s push for statehood is becoming a reference point for other political groups against their central government’s positions. This marks a new phase where the Somaliland recognition is seen differently by other regional entities, making a peaceful, resolution exponentially more possible. The international community must now contend not just with a bilateral dispute, but with a potential regional consensus effect.