Hornpost
Mogadishu (Horn post) A public dispute has erupted among senior officials within Somalia’s Federal Government after ministers and lawmakers exchanged sharp messages on social media over Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, exposing deep internal divisions over how the issue should be addressed.
The row followed a joint statement issued by ministers and members of parliament originating from Somaliland who currently hold positions within Somalia’s federal institutions. While the group addressed what they described as hostility, military campaigns, and political pressure directed at Somaliland under the administration of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, they stopped short of condemning Israel’s recognition of Somaliland.
Their position drew criticism from Somalia’s Minister of Defense, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, who openly faulted the Somaliland-origin officials for failing to denounce both Somaliland’s secession and the move by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In a sharply worded social media post, Fiqi said the lawmakers had spoken at length about issues unrelated to Israel’s recognition, accusing them of making what he described as sweeping and largely inaccurate allegations against successive Somali governments, including the very administration they serve under.
Fiqi further argued that the officials avoided addressing what he called the illegitimacy of secession and Israel’s recognition, adding that these positions are not unanimously shared among residents of the regions formerly known as Somaliland. He questioned the legitimacy of speaking on behalf of those regions, noting that the officials themselves did not represent a unified political stance.
“Those speaking in the name of the former Somaliland regions carry a responsibility to clearly explain the risks facing the areas they claim to represent and the dangerous political path they are taking,” Fiqi wrote, urging them to align their positions with the federal government they are part of.
The remarks prompted swift responses from senior Somaliland-origin ministers.
Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Mohamed A. Hayir “Maareeye” responded with a poetic rebuke directed at the defense minister, signaling strong rejection of the accusations and reflecting the depth of frustration among Somaliland-linked officials within the federal leadership.
Meanwhile, Minister of Finance Bihi Iman Egeh also weighed in, admonishing Fiqi in a separate message and warning him against what he implied were reckless accusations, invoking moral and religious accountability.
The public exchange highlights growing fractures within Somalia’s federal leadership, particularly over Somaliland-related policy following recent diplomatic developments. Observers say the episode underscores the difficulty Mogadishu faces in maintaining a unified position on Somaliland, as officials originating from the region increasingly challenge the federal government’s confrontational rhetoric while refusing to condemn Somaliland’s expanding international engagement.
Prepared by:
Horn post staff Reporter
