MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Somalia’s capital to protest Israel’s recognition of the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, waving Somali flags and chanting patriotic songs in a show of national unity.
The protest on Thursday night took place at Taleh Square in downtown Mogadishu, where the crowds condemned Israel’s move as a violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity in the east African country. Demonstrators carried placards rejecting what they described as foreign interference in Somalia’s internal affairs.
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A man pulls a handcart in Mogadishu, Somalia, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)
Cargo ships are docked at the port in Mogadishu, Somalia, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)
A man looks into a tunnel at the port in Mogadishu, Somalia, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)
People protest against Israel’s recognition of the self-declared Republic of Somaliland in Mogadishu, Somalia, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)
A man holds the flag of Somalia as people gather at the Mogadishu stadium while they protest Israel's recognition of Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent nation, in Mogadishu, Somalia, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)
The rally came two weeks after Israel announced that it recognized Somaliland as an independent and sovereign nation — and two days after Israel’s foreign minister visited Hargeisa, the Somaliland capital. On his visit, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said that Israel would soon open an embassy and appoint an ambassador.
Thursday night's demonstration was the third such event since Israel recognized Somaliland on Dec. 26.
“We are protesting against the division of our country,” demonstrator Said Gedi said. “This is against the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Somalia, and we hope Somalia will stand united.”
Another protester, Abdirahman Abdulkadir, said that the demonstration was meant to send a message of unity.
“Somalia cannot be divided,” he said. “We are united by one religion, one culture and the same heritage.”
The demonstration coincided with a televised address by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who strongly rejected Israel’s decision and urged dialogue between Somaliland’s leaders and the federal government in Mogadishu.
“I want to make it clear once again that the Republic of Somalia is a sovereign and united country,” Mohamud said. “Its territory cannot be divided or ceded by any letter written by Israel or signed by (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu.”
Mohamud warned that the dispute could undermine Somalia’s political stability, economic recovery and development if not handled carefully. He urged Somaliland’s leadership to aim for talks, saying successful secessions elsewhere usually happened through political agreements. He cited examples including South Sudan, which became independent of Sudan in 2011.
Israel has no historical, cultural or economic ties with Somalia, he said.
Somaliland, a former British protectorate, declared independence from Somalia in 1991 following the collapse of the central government. Despite maintaining its own institutions and relative stability, it had never been recognized by a U.N. member state.
More than 20 mostly Middle Eastern or African countries and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation rejected Israel’s move.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Tuesday that Israeli recognition of Somaliland was a “dangerous precedent that threatens regional and international peace and security.”
U.S. and Israeli officials told The Associated Press last year that Israel had approached Somaliland about taking in Palestinians from Gaza as part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan at the time to resettle the territory’s population. Somalia's foreign ministry says such a proposal has neither been discussed nor considered.
Washington has since abandoned that plan, and the U.S. State Department says it continues to recognize the territorial integrity of Somalia, “which includes the territory of Somaliland.”
A man pulls a handcart in Mogadishu, Somalia, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)
Cargo ships are docked at the port in Mogadishu, Somalia, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)
A man looks into a tunnel at the port in Mogadishu, Somalia, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)
People protest against Israel’s recognition of the self-declared Republic of Somaliland in Mogadishu, Somalia, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)
A man holds the flag of Somalia as people gather at the Mogadishu stadium while they protest Israel's recognition of Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent nation, in Mogadishu, Somalia, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Yes, Sean Payton would prefer to blame the Denver Broncos' stagnant offense on facing two backup quarterbacks whose teams were intent on keeping Bo Nix from running up the score.
“Yeah, I'd like to say that, but honestly, you guys know me well enough, we're going to have to play better,” the Broncos head coach said Friday after a spirited practice he compared to OTA days with the starters squaring off.
After losing 34-20 to Jacksonville at home on Dec. 21, snapping their 11-game winning streak, the Broncos won at Arrowhead Stadium for the first time since 2015 when they beat the Chiefs and their third-string quarterback 20-13 on Christmas night.
With Justin Herbert and several of his teammates sitting out Week 18, the Broncos beat the Los Angeles Chargers 19-3 but didn't score an offensive touchdown, going 0 for 3 in the red zone.
Still, those two victories helped secure the top overall seed in the AFC playoffs and the lone first-round bye that comes with it. They'll face the lowest remaining seed after wild-card weekend in the divisional round next week.
The popular narrative around Broncos Country is that Payton held back over the last two weeks with conservative calls and vanilla gameplans so as not to show anything to opponents heading into the postseason.
“I'd love to say that we pulled a bunch back, but the tape from last week wasn't really good offensively,” Payton said. “Wasn't great in Kansas City, either. It was good enough to win that game. But no, we've got to be sharper. As we get to these next games here we're going to see good teams that can score and we're going to see (stingy) defenses.”
That's why the Broncos didn't just go through the motions Friday when they reconvened after a 72-hour break to rest their minds and bodies following a 14-3 season.
“I said to them, ‘Look, I don’t want to go out and just fill in today, or just fill in time. I'm going to be honest with you, our third-down numbers bother me on each side of the ball,'" Payton recounted. "We can improve in that area.
“These games are going to come down to the 2-minute. I want those to be competitive, all right? And then I really want to work our red zone offense and defense.”
So, the Broncos didn't practice with the Chargers, Steelers, Texans or Bills in mind — those are the four teams they could face first in the divisional round — but were focused on execution and effort.
“Yeah, I was a little salty last week,” Payton said, referencing some harsh words he had for a columnist who made a wisecrack at his postgame news conference. “It wasn't just (the columnist). I was just salty.”
Payton is of the mindset that the biggest benefit to having the top seed is having to win just two games to reach the Super Bowl instead of three. Still, the rest and four days off were much needed and appreciated.
“It was good,” right tackle Mike McGlinchey said. “It was great to get rest and be able to chill out and enjoy some family time this week. My wife and I are about 2 1/2 weeks away from our second (child), so it's nice. We're nesting a little bit. But, no, it was good. Got the body right, get some treatment, get some workouts in during the week and then today was good, clean, get to kind of knock the rust off, get some long individual work in and then compete a little bit.”
McGlinchey concurred with his coach that the film review was uncomfortable and chock full of caveats.
“First and foremost, the obvious thing is executing in the red zone,” he said. “You've got to turn field goals into touchdowns and that's how you win games, especially this late in the year and especially as you go through the playoffs. Got to be better on third down — by being better on first and second down. ... We've just go to clean up details and we'll be fine."
After another similar practice Saturday, the Broncos will return to work either Monday or Tuesday, depending on when their first game is.
“You play great teams in the playoffs, that's the bottom line,” McGlinchey said. “It doesn't matter who we play. Whoever's going to come to town here is going to be a great challenge for us and we'll cross that bridge when we get there.”
NOTES: Payton said he expected ILB Dre Greenlaw (hamstring) to return during the playoffs, but added he wasn't ready to make a prediction about the return of RB J.K. Dobbins from Lisfranc foot surgery.
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Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) passes against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton looks on during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton talks with quarterback Bo Nix (10) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Eric Lutzens)
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton responds to a question during a news conference after an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Eric Lutzens)
