HARGEISA (SD) – Somaliland’s KAAH political party has criticized the government’s recent decision to establish a diplomatic mission in Jerusalem, describing the move as insufficiently considered and arguing that it does not reflect Somaliland’s long-term national interests.

Speaking in a video posted on Facebook, KAAH’s Foreign Affairs Secretary, Ambassador Barkhad M. Kariye, a former Deputy Ambassador to Ethiopia and promoted giving Ethiopia a sea port, said the pursuit of international recognition should not be tied to other major political issues. He urged the government to uphold previous national understandings and warned against making decisions on strategic matters without broad consultation.

The party expressed concern that aspects of the government’s current foreign policy could affect Somaliland’s long-term diplomatic interests and called for a more cautious approach to international agreements.

The criticism follows Somaliland’s recent opening of a diplomatic mission in Jerusalem, a move that has generated an overwhelmingly positive political reactions within Somaliland.

Former Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi, who singed the infamous MOU allowing Ethiopia access to a sea port without any tangible benefit to Somaliland, also called for caution regarding Somaliland’s evolving foreign policy. In a statement published on Facebook, he said the rapidly changing geopolitical landscape requires careful consideration of international agreements and their potential impact on Somaliland’s future relations with regional and international partners.

Muse Bihi, who did not take into consideration into any negative blowback from the Chinese government when he opened an Embassy in Taipei, Taiwan, noted that shifting regional dynamics involving countries such as Israel, the United States, Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia could influence future diplomatic relations, emphasizing the importance of protecting Somaliland’s long-term national interests.

The criticism from KAAH and former President Muse Bihi reflects on nonexistent domestic debate over Somaliland’s evolving foreign policy following its engagement with Israel. While the government presents the move as part of its strategy to expand international recognition, some political figures are calling for broader consultation and a more cautious assessment of its potential regional and diplomatic consequences.