Al-Shabaab issues sharp rebuke over Somaliland’s new Jerusalem embassy

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Al-Shabaab on Tuesday condemned Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro over the opening of Somaliland’s embassy in Jerusalem, saying he does not represent Muslim Somalis and urging residents of Somaliland to oppose his administration, as tensions over expanding Israel-Somaliland ties continue to draw reactions from both the militant group and Somalia’s federal government.

In a lengthy Arabic-language statement circulated through affiliated online media channels, the militant group criticized Somaliland’s growing relationship with Israel following Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region late last year. Al-Shabaab said the agreements signed since then included security cooperation, joint coordination and acceptance of the Abraham Accords, which it described as bringing together “crusaders, Jews and apostates.”

“Following the emergence of this issue, Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen explained the dangers surrounding this alleged recognition. At that time, we clarified the consequences it would have in violating the boundaries of Islamic law and the humiliation and disgrace it would bring,” the group said.

Al-Shabaab said it had previously warned of what it viewed as the consequences of Somaliland’s engagement with Israel and accused Somaliland authorities of opening the door to Jewish influence in the region.

The group reserved particular criticism for Irro’s decision to inaugurate Somaliland’s embassy in Jerusalem, saying it viewed the move as recognition of the city as Israel’s capital.

“Today, six months after that disgraceful recognition – which was obtained at the price of abandoning Islam and the honor of loyalty to Muslims – we witness the leader of this apostate entity becoming the first person associated with Muslim Somalia to openly and shamelessly declare Jerusalem the capital of the occupying Jews, at a time when even some Crusader states have hesitated to take such a step, recognizing the gravity of the situation,” the statement said.

Addressing Muslims worldwide, particularly Palestinians and residents of Gaza, Al-Shabaab said the actions of Somaliland’s leadership did not represent the Somali people.

“We say to Muslims in the East and the West, and especially to our brothers in Palestine and our people in Gaza: this shameful act, this degraded conduct, and what this apostate entity and its leaders loyal to the disbelievers have done in openly violating our true religion and the rights of Muslims – through their alliance with the warring Jews, the opening of an embassy in the occupied holy city of Jerusalem, and their offering of obedience to the Zionists – does not, under any circumstances, represent the authentic Muslim Somali people,” the group said.

The statement was notably less threatening than Al-Shabaab’s previous rhetoric following Israel’s recognition of Somaliland last year, when the group threatened attacks should Somaliland permit an Israeli military presence on its territory.

Expressing support for the Palestinian cause, Al-Shabaab said Somalis would continue to stand alongside Palestinians in their struggle against Israel and reiterated its long-standing slogan: “Jerusalem Will Not Be Judaized.”

The militant group also directed a message to the people of Somaliland, calling on them to oppose the Somaliland administration and asserting that President Irro had “abandoned the religion of Islam and has manifested clear disbelief.”

“It is not permissible to obey him or submit to his administration. Rather, Muslims are obligated to struggle against him and defend their religion and dignity,” the statement said.

Al-Shabaab further warned Somaliland residents against religious scholars whom it accused of attempting to justify cooperation with Jews and Christians, arguing that the Somaliland administration held no legitimate authority over Muslims living in the region.

A substantial portion of the statement focused on Jerusalem’s religious significance in Islam. The group described the city as the first qiblah of Muslims, the location of the Prophet Muhammad’s Night Journey and home to Islam’s third-holiest mosque.

The statement came a day after Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro cut the ribbon on Somaliland’s embassy in Jerusalem, the territory’s first diplomatic mission abroad and the eighth foreign mission to be opened in the city.

The development has intensified a growing dispute between Mogadishu and Tel Aviv over Israel’s engagement with Somaliland.

Somalia’s federal government on Tuesday issued a statement saying it reserved the right to take all necessary measures against Israel over its dealings with Somaliland, which it said violated Somalia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity.

The government called on the United Nations, the African Union and the wider international community to condemn what it described as actions undermining Somalia’s internationally recognized borders.

The latest developments follow remarks made last week by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who argued that Israel had not granted Somaliland genuine recognition but was instead pursuing its own security interests.

Speaking in an interview, Hassan Sheikh said a major problem was emerging from the plans involving Somalia and warned that signs of the coming crisis were already visible. He added that Somalia was being drawn into a conflict that was neither in its national interest nor of its own making.

The dispute over Israel-Somaliland relations has rapidly become one of the most contentious diplomatic issues in the Horn of Africa, drawing reactions from governments, militant groups and international observers as debate continues over the implications of Somaliland’s expanding international engagement and its relationship with Israel.

Contact us: info@somaliguardian.com