HARGEISA, Somaliland (HornPost) Somaliland has urged Greece and Cyprus to reconsider recognition after a controversy involving Somalia’s parliament speaker and Northern Cyprus.
Somaliland has publicly expressed support for Greece and the Republic of Cyprus in their longstanding disputes with Turkey, while urging Athens and Nicosia to reconsider their position on Somaliland’s bid for international recognition.
The statement, published through a semi-official Somaliland account on X, followed a controversy involving Somalia’s newly elected Parliament speaker and his contact with the speaker of the Turkish-controlled northern part of Cyprus.
“Somaliland stands with the Republic of Cyprus and Greece against aggression from Somalia and Turkey,” the statement said, adding that Somalia’s parliamentary engagement with the leadership of Northern Cyprus raised questions for Athens and Nicosia.
“Greece and Cyprus should take a fresh, strategic look at the Republic of Somaliland,” the statement added.
The comments were reported by Greek and Cypriot media, including Newsbreak.gr and Cyprus Mail.
Somalia Reaffirms Position on Cyprus
The controversy began after Somalia’s Parliament Speaker Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur referred to the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” in a social media post while thanking its parliamentary speaker, Ziya Öztürkler, for congratulating him on his appointment.
The post was later deleted.
Somalia’s Foreign Ministry subsequently moved to clarify that the incident did not represent a change in the country’s foreign policy.
Mogadishu said its position on the Cyprus issue remains guided by the U.N. Charter and relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions, while reaffirming its respect for the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus.
The development has nevertheless created a new diplomatic angle involving Somalia, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus and Somaliland.
Somaliland Seeks Wider Diplomatic Recognition
Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991 and has sought international recognition for more than three decades.
Israel recognized Somaliland as an independent state in December 2025, becoming the first U.N. member state to formally do so. The move triggered opposition from Somalia, Turkey and a number of regional and international governments.
Somaliland is now using the dispute surrounding Somalia’s contact with Northern Cyprus to make a new diplomatic argument to Greece and Cyprus: that closer relations with Hargeisa could provide opportunities for diplomatic, economic and security cooperation.
Turkey’s Role in Somalia
Turkey has developed extensive political, economic and security ties with Somalia over the past decade.
Ankara has supported Somalia through military training, security cooperation, infrastructure, education and humanitarian assistance. Turkey has also maintained a significant military presence in Somalia, with its parliament approving an extension of Turkish troops in the country through July 2028.
Turkey strongly opposes recognition of Somaliland and has repeatedly reaffirmed its support for Somalia’s territorial integrity.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has described Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as unacceptable and said Turkey would continue supporting Somalia’s security and stability.
A New Geopolitical Calculation?
Somaliland’s latest statement appears designed to frame its recognition campaign within the wider geopolitical competition involving the Horn of Africa, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean.
For Somaliland, closer ties with Greece and Cyprus could potentially open another diplomatic channel in Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean while strengthening its argument that recognition could serve broader strategic and security interests.
However, recognition by Greece or Cyprus remains speculative. Greece has previously maintained that Somalia’s territorial integrity should be respected, while Cyprus has also aligned itself with the European Union’s position on Somalia and Somaliland.
The latest Somaliland appeal therefore represents a diplomatic push rather than evidence of an imminent Greek or Cypriot recognition decision.
For Athens and Nicosia, the question is whether Somaliland’s strategic location on the Gulf of Aden and its emerging relationship with Israel could eventually become part of a broader foreign-policy calculation involving the Horn of Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean.
HornPost.com will continue to follow developments involving Somaliland, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey and Somalia.
Prepared by:
Horn Post Staff
