Puntland has issued its first official response to Israel’s recent decision to recognize the Somaliland administration as an independent state within the Federal Republic of Somalia.
Speaking on the matter, Puntland’s Minister of Information, Mahmoud Aydiid Dirir, said the Puntland administration remains committed to the foundational principles on which it was established, emphasizing support for Somali unity and rejecting the division of the country.
Dirir stated that Puntland does not support secession and is awaiting the emergence of a federal government that genuinely works toward national unity. He suggested that current political divisions stem from decisions taken by Somalia’s presidency, rather than from popular consensus.
“The European colonial powers did not grant territory to any one clan,” Dirir said, referring to Somalia’s colonial history. He noted that various regions and clans historically governed themselves independently, adding that national unity was later symbolized by the Somali flag.
The minister also argued that Somaliland lacks clearly defined borders and questioned the legitimacy of claims to statehood. He said that if secession were to occur, it would involve only certain clans and limited geographic areas, rather than the entire territory claimed by Somaliland.
According to Dirir, regions such as parts of Togdheer and Sanaag are inhabited by multiple clans, including Isaaq, Warsangeli, Dhulbahante, and Majeerteen, underscoring what he described as the complex social and demographic realities of northern Somalia.
Puntland’s comments come amid heightened political tension following Israel’s announcement recognizing the so-called “Republic of Somaliland,” a move that has drawn criticism from Somalia’s federal government and condemnation from several Arab and Islamic countries.
The Federal Government of Somalia has repeatedly affirmed that Somaliland remains an integral part of the country and that any recognition of separatist entities constitutes a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and international law.
