Hersi Ali Haji Haji Hassan tells Al Jazeera that Hargeisa had ‘no choice’ to seek recognition from Tel Aviv after 34 years of isolation.
A senior official in Somaliland’s governing party has strongly defended the breakaway region’s decision to normalize ties with Israel, dismissing widespread protests from the Arab and Muslim world as hypocritical.
In a heated interview with Al Jazeera Mubashar on Wednesday, the president of the ruling Waddani party, Hersi Ali Haji Hassan, argued that decades of neglect by the international community forced Somaliland to look to Israel for legitimacy.
The comments followed a controversial visit by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to Hargeisa, the region’s largest city and “capital”. Earlier this week – the first since Israel recognized the territory’s independence in late December.
“We are not in a position to choose,” Hasan told Al Jazeera. “We are in a position to require official international recognition.
“We have no choice but to welcome any country that recognizes our right to exist,” he added.
‘They ignored us for 34 years’
The visit has caused a diplomatic storm. The federal government in Mogadishu, which considers Somaliland as part of its territory, condemned the move as a violation of sovereignty. The Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also issued statements rejecting the “separatist reality”.
Hassan, however, dismissed this criticism.
“We have been an independent state for 34 years,” he said. “Arab League’s rejection makes no difference to us. They did not accept us as members … and we were not noticed by the Arab countries.”
When pressed on why Somaliland would ally itself with Israel when it is alone in the region, Hassan pointed to other Arab nations.
“Normalization with Israel is not limited to Somaliland,” he argued. “Many Arab and Islamic countries have extensive political and economic ties with Israel, such as Egypt, Turkey, Jordan and the UAE.”
Military base issue
Regional powers are concerned that the new coalition could establish an Israeli military foothold at the southern entrance to the Red Sea.
Asked repeatedly if Somaliland would allow Israel to establish a military base on its land, Hassan flatly refused to say no.
Hasan said, “We have initiated diplomatic relations… this topic (military base) is not touched now.
When pressed further on whether Hargesa would entertain such a request in the future, he replied: “Ask the question when the time comes … the question is premature.”
He insisted that the relationship was currently diplomatic and economic, with the aim of securing international legitimacy.
‘Political, not religious’
The interview turned tense when the discussion turned to the war on Gaza. Anchor Ahmed Taha challenged Hassan on the ethics of associating with a state accused of genocide, asking how he could ignore the suffering of “two million besieged Palestinians”.
Hassan sought to separate the political agreement from religious unity, claiming that the war in Gaza had “ceased” following a US-brokered initiative in October 2025 – a reference to the recent ceasefire agreement by United States President Donald Trump. Israel has killed hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect.
“We have political dealings with Israel,” Hassan said. “Political dealings are not something forbidden by religion… Our position towards the Palestinians is the same as the position of Arab and Islamic countries.
“We are far from these problems,” he added. “We’re looking for international recognition… that’s the main thing.”