By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
Somalia, 3 January 2026 - Sheikh Mahamed Wali Adirashid, one of the prominent religious figures in Somaliland, was arrested on Friday after delivering a sermon critical of Israel-Somaliland agreement.
In his sermon, delivered in Somaliland's capital, Hargeisa, Sheikh Abdirashid stated that some parts of the agreement contradicted Islamic principles, adding that they must be rejected.
Though he did not openly criticise the Abraham Accords, an initiative by the U.S. President Donald Trump encouraging diplomatic relations between Israel and Arab nations, Abdirashid urged President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Ahmed ‘Irro’ not to pursue any ties with Israel, given the ongoing suffering of Palestinians.
The Sheikh was part of a group of scholars who met President Irro on 30 December, last year, to discuss the Israel’s recognition of the region.
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Reports say the scholars had expressed concern about the agreement, terming it religiously and politically problematic.
In his sermon, Sheikh Abdirashid expressed concerns about the direction Somaliland was taking, warning that the pursuit of recognition from Israel could lead to irreversible political and religious damage. He emphasized the importance of informing the public about the potential consequences of such recognition.
He also criticized the celebrations witnessed Hargeisa after the hoisting of the Israeli flag, stating that there “was no other place in the world where such celebrations had taken place especially after what transpired in Gaza.”
Somaliland security forces have not yet provided an official explanation, however, it is believed that his stance on Israel’s recognition is the main reason for his arrest.
