Israel rattles Somalia as it assumes UN security Council chair

Somaliland Mission premises at Runda, Nairobi on May 29, 2025. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

 Israel has caused a brouhaha and diplomatic braggadocio in Somalia and the Horn of Africa after it became the first country in the world to recognize the breakaway republic of Somaliland.

While Somaliland leaders were in celebratory mood over the announcement, the response from Somalia was one of utter shock and complete rejection. How dare Israel recognize one of its federal member states as a nation?

The country immediately swung into a diplomatic charm offensive in the region, continent and the world to have the world reject the Israeli move.

The world responded positively to the Mogadishu rejection with the United States keeping a safe distance from the decision taken by Telaviv.

Somaliland declared its independence from Mogadishu in 1991 when the government then under strongman Gen Mohamed Siad Barre collapsed leading to the reign of terror in Somalia with warlords and terror groups taking charge. But no country in the world has dared to recognize the breakaway state.

Somalia has been very steadfast in rejecting any moves to give Somaliland any form of recognition including regional states which have low-level diplomatic ties with the breakaway state.

The Israeli move has created a diplomatic schism with the Mogadishu government with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud warning that the presence of the Jewish state in Somaliland could trigger a conflict relapse in parts of Somalia and across the neighbouring countries around the Gulf pf Aden and the Arabian Gulf.

The Somalia president further warned that recognition of Somaliland could export regional conflicts to the Horn of Africa.

Little has been reported about the motivation behind Israel’s recognition of Somaliland but intelligence reports indicate that the breakaway state will provide a haven for the settlement of Palestinians to be relocated from Gaza as well as hosting and Israeli military base.

The diplomatic tiff from the Israeli move has overshadowed everything in Somalia including the the looming election as well as the strained relations between the Federal Government and two of its member states namely Puntland and Jubaland.

The politicians seem to have closed ranks ton repulse the Israeli move with some warning that they are ready to take on the Jewish state for trying to break Somalia into minute pieces.

Meanwhile, has Somalia finally demonstrated she’s ready for democracy?

The Christmas Day exercise that saw thousands of Mogadishu residents pout out at polling centres to pick 390 representatives for the capital’s regional municipality is an indication that the country is ready for universal suffrage.

While the exercise was widely feared to be disrupted by terror group Al Shabaab who carry out sporadic attacks in the city and its environs, it went on smoothly with hundreds of thousands of Mogadishu residents turning up in large numbers to make their choice in more than 50 years.

The Federal Government of Somalia went flat out to ensure that nothing went wrong by deploying a security force of an estimated 10,000 police officers to secure the poll.

The result was an incident–free voting exercise that put naysayers to shame after they warned that Somalia was not ready for universal suffrage.

The opposition leaders in the country, including presidents of Federal Members states of Puntland and Jubaland have been very vocal demanding that the country should not venture into employing the one-person one-vote in the forthcoming parliamentary elections expected to take place in the month of May.

While the results of the election are yet to be announced, it seems the people of Somalia are ahead of their leaders if the turnout and the peaceful way they carried themselves on Christmas day is anything to go by.

The Christmas Day exercise will usher in 390 representatives elected for the capital’s 16 districts. The elected officials will then pick the Mogadishu mayor in the coming days.

Since 1969 when Gen Mohamed Siad Barre toppled the civilian government and imposed military rule, the three million residents of Mogadishu have not had a say on how their city should be run or managed since their mayor has always been named by the president in power.

After Barre was toppled in 1991 leading to the collapse of the government with warlords taking charge, there have been no regional municipal representatives for Somalia’s capital city.

On the historic Christmas Day poll, about 1,605 candidates presented themselves to be elected for the 390 positions in the regional council. The National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC) estimates about one million voters registered in April to vote in the poll but only half that number was expected to participate in casting their votes.

As the city residents wait patiently for the electoral commission to give its verdict, President Mohamud must be gloating with the success of the process. The opposition must have retreated to the drawing board to work out a new strategy to convince the residents of Mogadishu that the country is not ready for universal suffrage come the month of May when they pick their Members of parliament.

Finally, Somali has officially assumed the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for January 2026, marking a major milestone in the country’s diplomatic recovery and international engagement.

The role includes overseeing debates, guiding the adoption of resolutions, and issuing presidential statements on behalf of the Council.

The move puts places Somalia at the helm of the UN’s most powerful body that is responsible for maintaining international peace and security, an achievement widely viewed as a symbol of Mogadishu’s growing diplomatic stature and renewed global credibility.

Assuming the presidency elevates Somalia’s standing on the international stage, reflecting increased confidence among UN member states to lead complex geopolitical deliberations and make meaningful contribution to global security governance.

Somalia’s delegation will throughout the month set and manage the Council’s agenda, chair all meetings and facilitate negotiations among the 15 member states on pressing international issues.