Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud urged Somaliland officials to engage in dialogue with his government.
He stressed that Somalia is open to compromise on all issues except the “unity of the country,” which he called non-negotiable.
Mohamud made the remarks during a Friday visit to Las Anod, a provincial capital also claimed by Somaliland, in over 40 years.
The president attended the swearing-in ceremony of the new Northeast State president, Somalia’s sixth federal member state established in August.
His office described the visit as a symbol of federal efforts to reinforce Somalia’s territorial unity and strengthen national cohesion.
Mohamud also rejected Israel’s recent recognition of Somaliland, calling it unacceptable internationally and domestically, reaffirming Somalia’s sovereign authority.
Israel became the only country to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent state on Dec. 26, sparking regional criticism.
Somalia reiterated its firm commitment to sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national unity, condemning Israel’s unilateral move as illegitimate.
Since declaring independence in 1991, Somaliland has operated as a de facto self-governing entity but remains unrecognized internationally.
The president’s visit signals a renewed push for dialogue while emphasizing that Somalia’s borders and unity will remain inviolable.