Saturday April 18, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union warned Friday that any country interfering in Somalia’s internal affairs could face consequences, including possible restrictions related to the strategic Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.
Ambassador Abdullahi Warfaa made the remarks in a post on X, responding to Israel’s recent appointment of an ambassador to Somaliland, a self-declared breakaway region in northern Somalia.
The statement marks one of the strongest warnings yet from a Somali official following Israel’s move, which Mogadishu has described as a direct violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously condemned Israel’s decision, calling it “a direct breach of Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity” and asserting that Somaliland remains an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia under international law.
Somaliland declared independence in 1991 after the collapse of Somalia’s central government.
The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, located between Djibouti and Yemen, is a critical maritime chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. It is one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, carrying significant volumes of global trade and energy supplies.
Although Somalia has a long coastline along the Gulf of Aden, the strait itself lies outside Somalia’s direct territorial waters. Somaliland controls much of the coastline adjacent to the Gulf of Aden on the northern side of Somalia.
Analysts note that any attempt to restrict access to the Bab-el-Mandeb would face significant legal, military and diplomatic challenges. Control of international waterways is governed by international maritime law and depends on regional security arrangements and cooperation among coastal states and global powers with interests in the area.
The ambassador’s remarks come amid rising diplomatic tensions between Mogadishu and countries engaging with Somaliland at a higher level, highlighting the broader geopolitical sensitivities surrounding recognition, sovereignty and security in the Horn of Africa.
