{"id":346,"date":"2025-12-28T10:25:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-28T10:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/olivenewsnetwork.com\/?p=346"},"modified":"2026-02-02T14:19:55","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T14:19:55","slug":"global-backlash-grows-over-israels-recognition-of-somaliland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/olivenewsnetwork.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/28\/global-backlash-grows-over-israels-recognition-of-somaliland\/","title":{"rendered":"Global backlash grows over Israel\u2019s recognition of Somaliland"},"content":{"rendered":"

International organisations, Arab and African states, T\u00fcrkiye and Venezuela condemn move as illegal, reaffirm support for Somalia\u2019s sovereignty, territorial integrity. Israel’s recognition seen as first step to use Somaliland to relocate Palestinians as part of ethnic cleansing <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n

By Anadolu Staff<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ANKARA \/ ISTANBUL (AA) – Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as an “independent state” has been condemned by several Middle Eastern and African countries, and international organisations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Israel\u2019s move is “against international law” and constitutes unacceptable interference in Somalia\u2019s internal affairs, stressing that “Somalia & its people are one: inseparable by division from a far.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Somali Foreign Ministry rejected the step as unlawful, reaffirming the country\u2019s sovereignty and territorial integrity under international and regional charters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Somalia\u2019s Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed also condemned the move in a statement on US social media company X saying: “I firmly reject Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s declaration recognizing Somaliland.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He further added: “This violates international law and threatens Somalia\u2019s sovereignty and unity.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli said Israel\u2019s statement recognizing Somaliland, a region of Somalia, constitutes a new example of unlawful actions by Netanyahu’s government, aimed at creating regional and global instability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keceli stressed that the move amounts to open interference in Somalia\u2019s internal affairs, noting that decisions related to the future of the country and its northern breakaway region must reflect the will of all Somalis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reaffirming T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s commitment to peace and security in the Horn of Africa, Keceli said Ankara firmly supports Somalia\u2019s territorial integrity and will continue to stand with the Somali people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Egypt\u2019s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held phone calls with his counterparts from Somalia, T\u00fcrkiye, and Djibouti, rejecting and condemning Israel\u2019s decision, according to the Foreign Ministry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ministry stressed that any unilateral action violating Somalia\u2019s sovereignty or undermining its stability, including attempts to impose parallel entities, is unacceptable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The African Union (AU) also rejected any recognition of Somaliland, reaffirming its unwavering commitment to Somalia\u2019s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The Chairperson of the Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, firmly rejects any initiative or action aimed at recognizing Somaliland as an independent entity,” the bloc said in a statement on X, warning that such moves risk undermining peace and stability across the continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It added that Somaliland remains an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Gulf Cooperation Council<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Gulf Cooperation Council\u2019s secretary-general, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, condemned and rejected Israel\u2019s decision to recognize Somaliland, warning it could undermine stability in the Horn of Africa and set a dangerous precedent that risks increasing regional tension and conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit called Israel\u2019s decision unacceptable, describing it as a clear violation of international law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He warned that unilateral recognition constitutes interference in Somalia\u2019s in ternal affairs and sets a dangerous precedent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

US President Donald Trump said Friday he did not intend to immediately follow Israel in recognizing Somaliland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEverything is under study … We\u2019ll study it. I study a lot of things and always make great decisions and they turn out to be correct,\u201d Trump told the New York Post in a phone interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Somaliland\u2019s proposal to provide the US with access to a port on the strategically significant Gulf of Aden, Trump responded dismissively, saying: \u201cBig deal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Venzuela also reaffirmed its support for Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This principle is inviolable and constitutes the foundation for peace and stability in the Horn of Africa and throughout the world,” the South American country’s Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto said on Telegram.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IGAD reaffirmed its firm commitment to Somalia\u2019s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, rejecting any unilateral recognition as contrary to international law<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Djibouti-based trade bloc called for dialogue, regional cooperation, and support for peace and stability in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Qatar also voiced firm opposition, calling the decision to recognize Somaliland a dangerous precedent and a unilateral step that violates international law and infringes on Somalia\u2019s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a statement, the Gulf nation’s Foreign Ministry rejected any attempts to establish or impose parallel entities that would undermine Somalia\u2019s unity, reaffirming full support for Somalia\u2019s legitimate institutions and for preserving the country\u2019s security and stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ministry added that Israel should instead recognize the State of Palestine and work to end the war in the Gaza Strip, accusing Israel of undermining international legitimacy and fueling regional instability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Qatar\u2019s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani told Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in a phone call that Doha fully supports Somalia\u2019s sovereignty and territorial integrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Yemen<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yemen\u2019s Foreign Ministry voiced full support for Somalia\u2019s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, rejecting any measures or declarations between Israel and Somaliland as faits accomplis that violate international law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Palestine\u2019s Foreign Ministry also reaffirmed support for Somalia\u2019s unity, sovereignty and political independence, rejecting Israel\u2019s recognition of Somaliland as a move that undermines the country’s stability and poses a regional threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It accused Tel Aviv of using Somaliland within broader destabilizing policies, including toward Palestinians in Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hamas on Saturday rejected Israeli plans to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza, including to Somaliland, following Tel Aviv\u2019s recognition of the breakaway region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a statement, the group said it rejects ” the exchange of recognition between Somaliland and the criminal Zionist entity,” describing the move as “a dangerous precedent” and “an unacceptable attempt to gain false legitimacy.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iran on Saturday strongly condemned Israel\u2019s recognition of Somaliland as a \u201cflagrant violation of Somalia\u2019s sovereignty and territorial integrity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei described the move as \u201cmalicious,\u201d stressing the need for \u201cpreserving the national sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity\u201d of Somalia, and said it fits in with Israel\u2019s policy \u201cto destabilize countries in the region and exacerbate insecurity in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Backing condemnations by the OIC and AU, Baghaei urged \u201cdecisive action\u201d by the international community to \u201cneutralize this expansionist and threat-creating move by the occupying regime.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sudanese Foreign Ministry said Israel\u2019s recognition of Somaliland \u201cconstitutes a dangerous precedent that undermines the stability and security of the entire region.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It affirmed Sudan\u2019s full support for the unity of the Federal Republic of Somalia and its complete sovereignty over all its territory and internationally recognized borders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pakistan condemned Israel\u2019s recognition of Somaliland as \u201cprovocative and illegal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Islamabad said it \u201cstrongly condemns any attempts to undermine the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Somalia,\u201d rejecting Israel\u2019s move on \u201cthe so-called Somaliland region of the Federal Republic of Somalia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It reaffirmed its \u201ccomplete support for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity\u201d of Somalia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saudi Arabia said Israel\u2019s step entrenches \u201cunilateral, separatist measures\u201d and contradicts international law. In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry underscored the kingdom\u2019s \u201cfull support\u201d for the sovereignty of Somalia and the unity and integrity of its territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Riyadh also rejected \u201cattempts to impose parallel entities\u201d that undermine Somalia\u2019s stability and said it backs the country\u2019s legitimate state institutions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

International organisations, Arab and African states, T\u00fcrkiye and Venezuela condemn move as illegal, reaffirm support for Somalia\u2019s sovereignty, territorial integrity. Israel’s recognition seen as first step to use Somaliland to relocate Palestinians as part of ethnic cleansing<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":322,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,11],"tags":[25,15,22],"class_list":{"0":"post-346","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-africa","8":"category-conflict-zones","9":"tag-hamas","10":"tag-israel","11":"tag-sudan"},"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/olivenewsnetwork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/346","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/olivenewsnetwork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/olivenewsnetwork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/olivenewsnetwork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/olivenewsnetwork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=346"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/olivenewsnetwork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/346\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":347,"href":"https:\/\/olivenewsnetwork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/346\/revisions\/347"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/olivenewsnetwork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/olivenewsnetwork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=346"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/olivenewsnetwork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=346"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/olivenewsnetwork.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=346"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}