Somalia has called for intensified engagement with Saudi Arabia and other allied states to reinforce its sovereignty and oppose external actions that embolden the breakaway region of Somaliland.

The appeal follows Israel’s formal recognition of Somaliland and a high-profile visit by the Israeli foreign minister to the self-declared capital of Hargeisa, moves Mogadishu has branded as violations of Somali territorial integrity.

Somalia’s government, insisting that Somaliland remains an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia, has decried the recognition and diplomatic exchanges as destabilising and inconsistent with international law.

In response, Saudi Arabia has repeatedly affirmed its full support for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity and rejected unilateral recognition of Somaliland, underlining Riyadh’s commitment to regional stability and established borders.

Somalia’s foreign minister has held discussions with Saudi counterparts in Riyadh aimed at strengthening cooperation on diplomacy, security and economic coordination to counter what Mogadishu regards as unwarranted interference and to bolster its position in the Horn of Africa.

The diplomatic friction has also triggered public unrest in Mogadishu, with multiple protests as demonstrators decry foreign involvement and reaffirm national unity.

Somalia’s government maintains that only a negotiated settlement with Somaliland’s leaders can address internal disputes without compromising sovereignty, and it is seeking broader Arab and Islamic support for that stance.

Saudi reaffirmations of support have underscored shared interests in peace and respect for established international law, even as tensions over recognition and regional influence persist.