Somali general threatens march on Tel Aviv over Israel’s Somaliland recognition

December 30, 2025

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – A veteran Somali army general on Monday issued incendiary threats against Israel, vowing to lead troops on a march to Tel Aviv unless Israel reverses its recognition of Somaliland.

Yusuf Mohamed Siad, widely known as Indho-adde, made the remarks at a public gathering convened to denounce Israel’s decision, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Friday. Speaking before an audience of supporters, Indho-adde said he was prepared to die for Somalia and urged fellow military officers to “sacrifice their lives” in defence of the country.

“If they do not withdraw this decision, we will march all the way to Tel Aviv,” Indho-adde said. “We are not stopping in nearby territories. Our destination is Tel Aviv itself – unless they leave us alone.”

He claimed that former army chief General Dahir Indho-Qarshe, a senior military figure who fought in Somalia’s 1977–78 war with Ethiopia, would lead the effort. Indho-adde described Indho-Qarshe as a war hero.

The comments mark one of the most extreme public reactions so far to Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, the self-declared republic that broke away from Somalia in 1991 but is not internationally recognised by Mogadishu. Somalia’s federal government has repeatedly said Somaliland remains an integral part of the country and has condemned any foreign engagement with the region as a violation of its sovereignty.

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Indho-adde’s remarks were part of a broader outpouring of anger from Somali politicians, security officials and public intellectuals, some of whom have adopted language and threats echoing those used by militant groups, including calls for confrontation with Israel.

There was no immediate response from Israel to the general’s statements. Analysts note that Somalia, which has battled Islamist insurgency and decades of internal conflict, lacks the capacity to project military force beyond its borders. Nonetheless, the rhetoric underscores the depth of outrage the recognition has provoked and raises concerns about further radicalisation of public discourse.

Somalia’s government has not endorsed Indho-adde’s comments, but officials have warned that Israel’s move risks inflaming regional tensions and destabilising an already fragile Horn of Africa.