The President of Somaliland, Abdirahman Cirro, has disclosed that the letter he recently sent to Israel’s Prime Minister was identical to messages he addressed to several Muslim-majority countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey, but none of them responded.
Speaking publicly, President Cirro said the outreach was driven by what he described as the will of the Somaliland people. He expressed disappointment that the Muslim nations he contacted failed to reply, despite expectations of what he termed a “brotherly response” rooted in cooperation and mutual understanding.
“The same letter I sent to the Prime Minister was also sent to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey. None of them replied,” Cirro said. “However, the will of my people was answered by the State of Israel.”
He added that Somaliland appreciated Israel’s response, noting that his administration had hoped Muslim countries would engage constructively and respect the aspirations of the Somaliland population.
The remarks come amid heightened regional sensitivities and ongoing debates over Somaliland’s international standing and diplomatic outreach. Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has yet to receive formal international recognition but continues to pursue bilateral engagement with various states.
In a separate statement shared on his social media platforms, President Cirro issued a stern warning to Somalia, saying any military action against Somaliland would end in failure. He said Somaliland’s population is prepared to defend its territory and would repel any invasion more decisively than in the past.
“If Somalia attempts to invade the Republic of Somaliland, it will suffer a worse defeat than before,” Cirro said, adding that Somalilanders are ready to defend their country.
The comments are likely to further strain relations between Hargeisa and Mogadishu, which continue to disagree sharply over sovereignty, security, and diplomatic engagement, while drawing regional and international attention to Somaliland’s evolving foreign policy posture.