The Chief Editor of Somaliland Chronicle’s Interview with Israel’s i24News TV
Only Israel Spoke Out at the UN When Siyad Barre Was Massacring the People of Somaliland” says Saeed Ibrahim, editor of Somaliland Chronicle.
In a recent appearance on Israel’s i24 News channel, Saeed Ibrahim, editor of the Somaliland Chronicle, argued that Somaliland’s bid for statehood rests on its own democratic record and legal rights – not on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict or broader regional Middle Eastern or Horn of Africa tensions.
Somaliland, a territory of about 6.5 million inhabitants in the Horn of Africa, “regained its independence from Somalia over 34 years ago,” yet remains unrecognized internationally . Ibrahim emphasized that his government has long maintained independent governance and institutions; since regaining its independence from Mogadishu in 1991, “Somaliland has maintained its own government, currency and security structures,” a relative rarity in the region . He noted that Somaliland’s new president has made international recognition a declared priority , and reiterated the argument found in official statements that Somaliland meets the established criteria of statehood. As one Somaliland press release put it, the country “has upheld peace, democratic governance, and effective state institutions for over three decades,” fulfilling the “legitimate expression of sovereign will” under international law .
Ibrahim made clear that these facts – not events in Gaza or the broader Middle East – should guide decisions on Somaliland’s status. Ibrahim also pressed the point that Somaliland’s campaign should not be conflated with the Israel–Palestine conflict. As Foreign Minister Abdirahman Dahir Adan told Reuters, “there are no talks with anyone regarding Palestinians.” Somaliland’s representatives insist they have not been approached about Gaza and have no interest in getting involved, underscoring that their diplomacy is focused solely on Somaliland’s own future. This position echoes reporting that Somaliland’s government is “not in talks about taking in Palestinians,” leaving the territory’s quest for recognition separate from any uprooting of Gaza civilians .
In this way, Ibrahim argued, Somaliland is neither bargaining chips nor proxies in Middle East rivalries – its claim is based on internal merits alone. Highlighting a historic bond with Israel, Ibrahim reminded the audience of Israel’s past support for Somaliland. He noted that Israel was among the few nations to recognize Somaliland at independence; “Israel was one of 35 countries that recognized Somaliland’s brief independence in 1960,” and in fact an Israeli diplomat said as recently as 2010 that his government was ready to recognize Somaliland again . More strikingly, Ibrahim pointed out that during the 1988 campaign of mass killings carried out by Somali dictator Siyad Barre against Somaliland’s Isaaq population, Israel’s ambassador to the UN was reportedly the only foreign diplomat to raise the massacre before the Security Council. This rare act of solidarity – witnessed three decades ago – resonated with Ibrahim, who framed it as evidence of an enduring relationship.
Observers note that Israel and the U.S. have indeed shown new interest in March 2025 officials from both countries discussed Gaza with Somaliland and other Horn of Africa leaders, but Somaliland insists its recognition is not a concession on Gaza; rather, Ibrahim argued, it is about justice for Somaliland’s people. Through his i24 appearance, Saed Ibrahim made a pointed case that Somaliland’s independence claim is grounded in history and law. He cast Somaliland as a stable, democratic outlier in Africa “a country that can bring forward and contribute to peace,” as Somaliland’s press has noted – and urged Israel (and the world) to view Somaliland on its own terms. With quotes like Adan’s declaration of “no talks” on Palestinians and references to Somaliland’s long-standing state institutions , Ibrahim underscored that the push for recognition is a matter of principle.
Source: Inside Africa @inside_afric