President Hassan Sheikh Condemns Israel’s ‘Land Grab' as Red Line

By Mohamed Abdi - Reporter

Somalia, 17 January 2026 Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has strongly condemned what he described as “Israel’s land-grabbing,” stating that it is a red line that cannot be crossed and does not align with Somalia’s national interests or those of the wider region.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the North Eastern State administration, the President said recognising Israel is not in Somalia’s national interest and offers no benefit to the future of the territory inhabited by Somalis, particularly Somaliland.

“Israel’s land-grabbing is a no. It is a red line. It is not in our interest, nor in the interest of the land we live on,” the President said.

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He also noted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is politically isolated, adding that Somalia will not accept any attempt to drag parts of the Somali people into a similar isolation.

“We will not allow our Somali people to be placed into the same political isolation Netanyahu is in. We will never accept recognition of that matter,” he said.

The remarks come as Somalia’s federal government has repeatedly reaffirmed its stance on defending national sovereignty, territorial unity, and national decisions based on the interests of the Somali people.

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