By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
Somalia, 11 January 2026 — Somali Defence Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi has appealed to the Arab world to take action against Somaliland's push for independence terming it illegal and a threat to Somalia's unity and regional stability.
In an interview with Al-Jazeera’s Arabic channel on Saturday evening, Fiqi accused Somaliland’s President, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi ‘Irro’, of working with Israel to relocate Palestinians to northern regions of Somalia. Somaliland has since denied the accusations accusing Mogadishu of spreading falsehoods.
However, in the interview, Fiqi doubled down on the accusation, calling on Arab nations, especially Saudi Arabia, to treat President Irro in the same manner as Yemen’s secessionist leader, Aidarus al-Zoubaidi, who recently fled to United Arab Emirates.
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"Abdirahman Irro, the secessionist leader, is similar to Aidarus al-Zoubaidi, who fled Yemen," said Fiqi. "We are requesting Arab countries, led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to take action against this secessionist movement led by (President) Abdirahman, which seeks to deny Palestinian people their rights and move them to another land," he added.
The Minister also emphasized the importance Arab countries' support in protecting Somalia's integrity, warning against external interference that could exploit the fragile situation in the region for selfish political agendas.
He urged for more international pressure to ensure that Somaliland's pursuit of independence does not threaten security of the Horn of Africa.
