The ministry’s spokesman, Ismail Baqa’i, said the move reflected a plan he described as one to undermine the stability of Islamic countries and alienate countries in the region.

He added that Somaliland is part of the territory of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and that the decision directly contradicts international law and the rules that protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries.

The spokesman stressed that the move contradicts the principles of the United Nations, describing it as a violation of the independence, freedom and territory of an independent country.

He also called on international organizations such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the African Union, and the international community in general, to jointly confront what he described as Israel’s interference and expansionist ambitions in other countries.

This press release comes at a time of increasing debate about the diplomatic relations being established between Somaliland and Israel, which remains a major controversy both inside and outside Somalia.

At the meeting, the President commended the officials and activists of the Justice and Solidarity Party (JSP) for their efforts, encouraging them to further strengthen public awareness, unite supporters, and expand activities related to the preparation of the elections.

The President clearly stated that the various candidates in the elections will compete in accordance with the Party’s system, to ensure an election process that is transparent, fair, and reflects the country’s democracy.

President Hassan Sheikh also stressed the importance of moving away from personal politics, noting that every citizen with political ambitions should trust the people’s voice and their decisions.

“I reiterate my call to move beyond personal politics, and for every citizen with political ambition to trust the voice and decision of the people,” the President said.

The President’s statement comes at a time when political movements are underway in Mogadishu by some opposition figures, who are discussing their position on the direction of the country’s politics and the elections.

The commission said in an official statement that this decision is based on the implementation of provisions of the new Federal Constitution of Somalia, which clearly states that one person cannot simultaneously hold the position of a member of parliament and a minister.

This step directly affects the members of parliament in the government of Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, who are said to number about 15 ministers out of the 25 members of the Council of Ministers.

The officials who will be most affected by this decision include the Deputy Prime Minister, Salah Ahmed Jama, who is a member of the Upper House of Somalia.

These officials have been ordered to vacate one of the two positions, which means they will lose either their membership in Parliament or their ministerial positions, based on provisions of the Federal Constitution of Somalia.

The committee added that the separation of executive and legislative powers is essential for the process of state-building and the preservation of the system of governance.

However, President Hassan Sheikh has previously said that the new constitution will be implemented after his term of office, which is only 30 months away.

Reports indicate that the government is persuading the cabinet of ministers in parliament to resign from their positions as a good sign of the implementation of the new constitution in the country.

Some of the current ministers in parliament fear that if they resign from their parliamentary seats, they will find it difficult to return to their seats.

Constitutional Committee orders ministers to choose between government and parliamentary positions.

AFRICOM said in a statement on Saturday that the strike took place on April 17, amid an increase in US airstrikes in Somalia.

Africom did not provide further details about the strike, nor did it disclose the number of casualties or damage, a policy adopted by the US since last year.

The US is also carrying out airstrikes in southern Somalia, where heavy fighting has taken place in recent weeks between government forces and al-Shabaab.

Although US airstrikes have decreased during the height of tensions with Iran, AFRICOM is still on track to break its annual record for airstrikes in Somalia. That record was set by Donald Trump, who carried out 124 airstrikes last year, surpassing the previous record of 63 airstrikes he set in 2019.

In a statement issued by the Commission on Sunday, it said the African Union fully supports the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and does not recognize Somaliland as an independent state.

The African Union also recalled the resolutions of the 1324th session of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, which stated that any step to recognize Somaliland as a separate state is considered illegitimate and unacceptable.

The Commission warned that such steps could undermine efforts for peace and stability in the region, and could exacerbate tensions in the Horn of Africa.

The African Union also reiterated its continued support for Somalia, particularly in the areas of peacebuilding, state-building and strengthening national unity.

This move comes after Israeli media reported that the Israeli government had appointed Michael Lotem as its first ambassador to Somaliland, having previously served in Kenya.

In a speech on state television and an interview with ETV, he said that relying on other countries makes Ethiopia vulnerable and does not fully control its communications, trade and national data.

Abiy stressed that Ethiopia’s landlocked status affects state secrecy and the smooth flow of trade, noting that goods entering and leaving the country must pass through systems controlled by other countries. This, he said, means that information and trade can be easily viewed or intercepted.

The prime minister’s remarks mark a significant shift in his approach to the issue, as he previously focused on economic aspects such as transportation costs and market competition. Now, he is clearly linking the maritime issue to ideas of control, security and national sovereignty.

However, this new vision has not been fully reflected within the country. While there is a general understanding of the need for a sea route, there are differences over how it can be achieved and what is acceptable in any agreement. Abiy himself acknowledged that some in the public are hesitant about this.

The debate is heating up as Tsadkan Gebretensae, a former Ethiopian army chief, recalled the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea in the late 1990s. He said that Ethiopia had superior military power at the time but did not translate it into political success, noting that issues related to Assab Port were too sensitive to discuss openly at the time.

Analysts warn that the issue cannot be resolved solely through military means, pointing to the Algiers Agreement, which established a legal framework for resolving disputes between Ethiopia and Eritrea, based on the return to the old borders and international mediation.

The meeting focused on bilateral relations, the political situation in Somalia, and security issues in the Horn of Africa region.

Minister Badr Abdelatty conveyed greetings from the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, wishing Somalia peace, stability and continuous development. He also affirmed that Egypt fully supports the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia, and rejects anything that undermines the unity of the country.

The Minister specifically condemned any unilateral action that may affect the unity of Somalia, adding that Egypt opposes any international measures related to recognition or diplomatic missions for Somaliland.

Egypt also confirmed that it will continue to support Somalia in the political, security, military and humanitarian fields, with particular emphasis on combating terrorism and strengthening stability in the Horn of Africa region.

For his part, President Hassan Sheikh thanked Egypt for its continued support, stressing that Somalia intends to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries to achieve mutual interests and regional stability.

A press release from the Commission stated that simultaneous elections will be held in South West, Hirshabelle and Galmudug, with the aim of unifying the electoral process in these states.

The Commission said that the House of Representatives and local council elections in South West will be held on April 28, 2026, with preparations for the elections already underway.

The Commission has been releasing election schedules at different times, and so far there has been confusion over the method of balancing the clans and how the organizations are winning candidates, and it appears that the Commission is now trying to oblige the organizations to form alliances or for each organization to independently nominate all the local councils in District A-B, which is never possible.

The Commission also announced that the Galmudug and Hirshabelle elections will be held jointly on May 13, 2026.

These elections are set to elect the House of Representatives and local councils in both administrations on the same day.

Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission said that the local council elections in the North-East Administration will take place on June 9, 2026.

These elections are expected to be the first to be officially held in Galmudug and Hirshabelle based on the new electoral process.

However, these elections have already faced political criticism, with some opposition parties having previously rejected the approach to local elections, indicating that there are still political challenges surrounding the implementation of the country’s electoral process.

The OIC said it considers the move a violation of the sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The organization described Somaliland as “a region in northwestern Somalia”, rejecting the legitimacy of the appointment.

The statement also noted that Israel, which the OIC described as a “colonial power”, has taken a step that is inconsistent with the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter.

Meanwhile, the OIC reiterated its full support for the Federal Government of Somalia and its full support for its sovereignty, territorial integrity and legitimate institutions.

The organization called for respect for international law, particularly those that protect the sovereignty and borders of member states.

Finally, the OIC stressed that any action that undermines the unity of Somalia is unacceptable, urging all parties to abide by international law.

The order came after days of complaints that many traders refused to accept the local currency, which has affected business and the daily lives of the people.

The governor made it clear that any trader who refuses to accept the Somali Shilling will be considered a criminal, noting that the country’s currency is the backbone of the economy and a symbol of nationalism.

He stressed that protecting the local currency is a constitutional obligation and a responsibility of citizens.

Parts of the city have seen a widespread resumption of the use of the Somali Shilling, especially the thousand shilling note, with the city’s major markets operating normally.

A mother trader working in the Bakaara Market told the media that they are now accepting the shilling as normal, and have complied with the administration’s order.

She pointed out that there were many problems when the currency was being rejected, especially in terms of payment and business understanding.

Similarly, another vegetable trader said that they faced challenges during the days when the Shilling was rejected, but now they are very happy with the decision of the Banadir Regional Administration.

The regional administration said that this move was the result of an emergency meeting between the Governor and traders in Mogadishu, in which it was decided to fully restore the use of the Somali Shilling currency, an order that has now officially come into effect in the city.