HARGEISA, Somaliland – Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Cirro) has launched a scathing attack on Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, accusing him of attempting to destabilize the region by making territorial claims over Berbera’s airbase and port.
In a televised Eid speech, Cirro denounced Mohamud’s assertions regarding Berbera, a key strategic city in Somaliland, and criticized the Somali leader’s ability to maintain security within his own jurisdiction.
“The president of Somalia has no control over Berbera and yet continues to make baseless claims about its facilities,” Cirro said. “Such remarks serve only to provoke unrest and threaten regional stability.”
The Somaliland leader further urged the international community to disregard President Mohamud’s statements, portraying him as “unfit” to manage security concerns in Mogadishu, let alone influence affairs in Somaliland.
He made an indirect reference to recent Al-Shabab gains near Mogadishu, emphasizing the group’s growing influence in regions close to the capital.
“Somalia’s leadership should focus on securing Mogadishu, which is facing increasing threats from militants, rather than making unfounded claims over territories beyond their reach,” he added.
The remarks come after Somali federal government’s proposed to lease the Berbera airbase, airport and port to the United States in a letter sent by President Hassan Sheikh to his counterpart Donald Trump.
While Somaliland has operated as a self-declared independent entity since 1991, Somalia continues to assert its sovereignty over the region, leading to frequent diplomatic clashes.
Cirro’s comments are expected to add further strain to the already fragile relationship between the two sides, particularly as Somalia continues efforts to engage international partners in discussions about its territorial integrity.
The Federal Government of Somalia has yet to officially respond to Cirro’s remarks. However, political analysts suggest that this exchange signals a deepening of hostilities that could complicate future negotiations on regional stability and governance in the Horn of Africa.
