In a heartfelt and widely shared message released on January 18, 2026, Dr. Essa Abdirahman Mohamoud Kayd—former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Somaliland—addressed his fellow Somalilanders not as a government official, but as “a son of this land,” celebrating Israel’s historic recognition of Somaliland and reaffirming the nation’s unbreakable commitment to its sovereignty.
He recounted the violent collapse of that union, the 1980s–1991 genocide against Somaliland’s people, the bombing of its cities, and the heroic rebuilding that followed in 1991—achieved entirely by Somalilanders themselves through traditional conflict resolution, community resolve, and determination, with virtually no international support.
Kayd highlighted Israel’s longstanding support: recognizing Somaliland first in 1960, reporting the 1991 atrocities to the United Nations, and now, on December 26, 2025, becoming the first UN member state to formally recognize Somaliland’s reasserted independence in the modern era.
He condemned recent Somali government actions in Las Anod, accusing Mogadishu of violating Somaliland’s sovereignty, inciting violence, and funding proxy militias in a final attempt to destabilize the republic. Kayd criticized the international community’s continued silence on these aggressions.
Rejecting any future negotiations over Somaliland’s existence, he declared the dream of Somali unity dead due to betrayal, mass killings, and denial of Somaliland’s identity. He urged Somalilanders—especially in the diaspora—to act as ambassadors, proudly carrying the flag in every sphere: universities, media, parliaments, businesses, and diplomatic channels.
Kayd called on regional neighbors and long-time partners, particularly the United Arab Emirates, to honor past commitments and formally recognize Somaliland, warning that neutrality in this defining moment would be remembered. He addressed Somalia directly, stating that its failures are self-inflicted and that its current actions threaten regional stability.
Concluding with a message of resilience and pride, Kayd affirmed: “Somaliland is not an emerging breakaway. Somaliland was here before any other nation in the heart of Africa and will continue to exist. We are standing unshaken, united, undeniable—for as long as it takes.
God bless Somalilanders.”
The statement has galvanized support among Somalilanders and amplified global discussion following Israel’s groundbreaking recognition, which continues to reshape diplomatic dynamics in the Horn of Africa.
