Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said on Sunday that Taiwan and Israel threaten Somalia’s existence and statehood, speaking in Mogadishu at the launch of a National Defence University funded by China.
The remarks sharpen Mogadishu’s dispute with the two governments that deal most openly with Somaliland, the breakaway northern region, and tie Somalia more closely to Beijing’s “One China” position. They came as the president also faces a domestic standoff with an opposition that is boycotting his talks on the coming elections.
What did Hassan Sheikh Mohamud say about Taiwan and Israel?
“Taiwan poses a threat to Somalia’s existence, and Israel poses another threat to Somalia’s statehood. We know who our close friends are, and who are not,” Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said, according to Hiiraan Online, which reported the speech in Somali. Dawan Africa and Horseed Media carried similar wording.
He described China as one of Somalia’s closest friends, saying Beijing had stood by the country since the 1960s and that the two shared the “One China” and “One Somalia” principles, Dawan Africa reported. China’s ambassador to Somalia, Wang Yu, attended the ceremony, according to Kaab TV.
Neither Taiwan’s representative office in Hargeisa nor Israel’s foreign ministry had commented publicly by Sunday evening. The Somaliland administration had also not responded.
What is being built in Mogadishu?
The president laid the foundation stone for the National Defence University, which is to offer academic programmes, research facilities and specialised training for the armed forces, Horseed Media reported. The Chinese government is supporting the project.
He also launched the reconstruction of the Somali National Army’s military hospital, a three-storey building to be built by the army’s own construction command, which the president reactivated at the same event. The government did not give a cost or a completion date for either project.
Why does Somaliland matter to Somalia?
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and runs its own government from Hargeisa, but it had no formal recognition until Israel recognised it in December 2025. Mogadishu called that move a “naked invasion” at the time, Al Jazeera reported, and earlier this month denounced Israel’s reported appointment of an ambassador to the region.
Taiwan does not recognise Somaliland as a state, but the two have exchanged representative offices since 2020. In December 2025 Taiwan’s office in Hargeisa rebuked Hassan Sheikh Mohamud after he backed Beijing’s position on Taiwan in an interview with China’s state broadcaster CGTN, the Horn Tribune reported.
Somalia regards Somaliland as part of its territory. The federal government’s position is set out by the Office of the President.
How does the speech fit Somalia’s political crisis?
In the same speech Hassan Sheikh Mohamud criticised opposition leaders for seeking help from abroad and urged them to return to talks, saying nothing was off the table except issues that undermine the country’s unity, security and sovereignty, according to Dawan Africa.
The opposition Somalia Future Council said on Saturday it would negotiate only under the mediation of the US, Britain, the EU and Turkey, Dawan Africa reported. Its boycott meant the government’s national dialogue failed to open last week. The dispute deepened after the Supreme Court ruled against the president’s term extension.
The president returned to Mogadishu on Sunday from the COP31 climate summit in Antalya, Turkey, Hiiraan Online said.
What happens next?
Responses from Taipei, Israel and Hargeisa will show whether the remarks harden the diplomatic dispute over Somaliland. At home, the government and the opposition remain apart on who should mediate the election talks.
FAQ
What did Hassan Sheikh Mohamud say on 15 November?
He said Taiwan threatens Somalia’s existence and Israel threatens its statehood, and called China a close friend, according to Hiiraan Online and Dawan Africa.
Where was Hassan Sheikh Mohamud speaking?
At the groundbreaking for a China-funded National Defence University in Mogadishu, where he also launched the rebuilding of the army’s military hospital.
Why are Taiwan and Israel linked to Somaliland?
Israel recognised Somaliland in December 2025, the only country to do so. Taiwan and Somaliland have exchanged representative offices since 2020.
Have Taiwan or Israel responded?
Neither had commented publicly by Sunday evening. Taiwan’s office in Hargeisa rejected earlier remarks by the president in December 2025.
