NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto on Saturday, December 27, joined regional leaders in engaging Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud over the political stability and security of the Horn of Africa nation, reaffirming support for Somalia’s sovereignty amid renewed regional and international developments.
According to the Office of the Somali President, Ruto held separate phone conversations with Mohamud alongside Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni and Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh was also part of the high-level engagements.
“President Hassan Mohamud held phone calls with President William Ruto of Kenya, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, and President Samia Suluhu of Tanzania,” the Somali presidency said in a statement.
“The calls addressed bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest. During the calls, the presidents reaffirmed their support for Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.”
The discussions focused on Somalia’s political wellness and broader regional security concerns, particularly the long-running threat posed by Al-Shabaab militants, who continue to destabilise parts of the country and the wider Horn of Africa region.
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania all contribute troops to the African Union’s peace support mission in Somalia and have consistently backed Mogadishu’s efforts to rebuild state institutions and restore stability.
The regional show of solidarity comes at a sensitive moment for Somalia, following international controversy over Israel’s reported move to recognise Somaliland as an independent state.
On Friday, December 26, the African Union (AU) firmly rejected any recognition of Somaliland, reiterating that the self-declared republic remains part of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
In a statement, the AU Commission said its chairperson had noted the development with “deep concern” and reaffirmed the Union’s unwavering commitment to Somalia’s unity and sovereignty.
“The African Union’s position is anchored in its Constitutive Act and the long-standing principle of respect for colonial borders,” the Commission said, warning that recognition of Somaliland would undermine Somalia’s territorial integrity and risk destabilising peace and security across the continent.
Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not been internationally recognised, has maintained relative stability compared to the rest of Somalia.
In sharp contrast to the AU’s position, Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdallah welcomed Israel’s decision, describing it as a historic milestone in Somaliland’s quest for international recognition.
“The recognition reflects shared values and Somaliland’s record of stability and democratic governance in a turbulent region,” Abdallah said.
He further announced Somaliland’s intention to join the Abraham Accords, framing the move as part of a broader commitment to regional and global peace, and confirmed that the decision would pave the way for full diplomatic relations with Israel.
However, regional analysts warn that unilateral recognition of Somaliland could complicate fragile diplomatic efforts in the Horn of Africa, where border disputes, militant violence and political transitions remain deeply intertwined.
For Kenya and its East African Community partners, continued engagement with Somalia is seen as critical to maintaining regional stability, safeguarding trade routes and countering cross-border security threats.
President Ruto has previously reiterated Kenya’s support for a Somali-led peace process, emphasising dialogue, regional cooperation and African-led solutions as the most sustainable path to lasting stability in Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa.
