Statement by 21 Arab and Islamic Countries on the Recognition by Israel of the “Land of Somaliland”

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), along with 21 Arab and Islamic countries, has affirmed its categorical rejection of Israel’s announcement recognizing what it called the “Land of Somaliland,” describing the move as “a dangerous precedent and a threat to international peace and security.”

This position was expressed in a joint statement issued by the Organisation and the foreign ministers of Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Algeria, the Comoros, Djibouti, The Gambia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Libya, as well as the Maldives, Nigeria, the Sultanate of Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

The statement underscored “the absolute rejection of Israel’s announcement recognizing the Somaliland region, located within the Federal Republic of Somalia, in view of the grave repercussions of this unprecedented step on peace and security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, as well as its dangerous consequences for international peace and security.” It added that the decision “also reflects Israel’s clear and total disregard for international law.”

The declaration further stressed that recognizing the independence of parts of the territory of sovereign states constitutes a dangerous precedent and a threat to international peace and security, as well as to the established principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. It “strongly condemned” the recognition, describing it as a flagrant violation of international law and the UN Charter, which affirms respect for state sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

The statement also categorically rejected “any link between this Israeli measure and any potential projects aimed at displacing the Palestinian people.”

Israel’s announcement on Friday recognizing the “Republic of Somaliland” as an independent state triggered a wave of Arab, Islamic and regional condemnations and denunciations, accompanied by warnings that the decision constitutes a “blatant violation of international law” and a direct threat to security in the Horn of Africa and to Somalia’s stability. Numerous Arab and Islamic capitals issued official statements of condemnation, while Islamic, Arab and African organizations released communiqués warning of the repercussions of this step for the region.

Israel thus became, on Friday, the first country in the world to officially recognize the territory, which unilaterally declared its secession from Somalia in 1991. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the decision was taken “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords,” announcing “the establishment of full diplomatic relations” as well as cooperation agreements in the fields of agriculture and technology.