Somalia will review its policy toward Somaliland to rebuild trust and advance its long-standing goal of national unity, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced during Independence Day celebrations in Mogadishu on Thursday night, June 25, 2026.

The president said the review is intended to find ideas that can address the concerns of communities in the northern regions and create a path back to a united Somali state.

“We are reviewing our policy on Somaliland and the northern regions so that we can find an approach that convinces our brothers and sisters to reunite with the rest of Somalia,” Mohamud said.

The statement marks a deliberate shift in tone from Mogadishu, framing the issue as one of dialogue and persuasion rather than pressure.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has functioned as a self-administered region since, but it remains unrecognized internationally as a sovereign state.

Successive federal governments have maintained that Somalia’s territorial integrity is non-negotiable, while Somaliland has insisted on recognition of its separate status.

Mohamud said his administration remains committed to Somali unity, but emphasized method over speed.

“Our commitment to Somali unity will not waver. We will continue searching for every possible avenue that can bring our people back together,” he said.

He added that the federal government is prepared to overcome the challenges that have complicated reconciliation efforts for decades, and that it will safeguard the interests of communities in the north.

“We will continue to safeguard the interests of communities living in the northern regions and work on initiatives that serve their social, economic and political needs,” the president said.

The focus on services and governance signals an attempt to make unity more tangible. Past federal overtures have often centered on constitutional or political formulas. By promising concrete attention to social and economic needs, Mogadishu appears to be testing whether development, service delivery, and political inclusion can create a more convincing case for reunification.

The announcement comes at a sensitive moment for the Horn of Africa. Regional security, trade corridors, and political alignments have shifted in recent years, putting pressure on all parties to clarify their positions. For Somalia, rebuilding internal cohesion is seen as essential to stabilizing the south and center, attracting investment, and speaking with one voice on foreign policy.