Israel’s recognition of Somaliland condemned across globe
Arab, Islamic, African states condemn move as violation of international law and fear it signals attempts to violently redraw borders and displace Palestinians
DOHA, Qatar (MNTV) – Israel’s unprecedented decision to formally recognize the breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent state has ignited widespread condemnation across the Arab, Islamic, and African world.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement that Israel would establish full diplomatic relations with Somaliland — a territory that declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has never been recognized internationally — immediately provoked a strong backlash.
Tel Aviv framed the recognition as enhancing cooperation in agriculture, technology, health, and economic sectors and aligning with its broader diplomatic goals, including the Abraham Accords.
Critics warn that it not only undermines Somalia’s sovereignty but also signals a dangerous new chapter in Israeli geopolitical strategy linked to its longstanding expansionist ambitions and controversial ideas on Palestinian displacement.
More than 20 Arab, Islamic, and African nations, led by foreign ministers from Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Palestine, and others, have issued a collective denunciation, describing the Israeli action as a blatant disregard for international law and a direct threat to regional peace and stability.
In a joint statement, the ministers underscored that unilateral recognitions of breakaway regions erode core principles of state sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the UN Charter, stoking tensions across the Horn of Africa and beyond.
Most significantly, Somalia’s government reacted with outrage. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud condemned Israel’s recognition as a severe violation of Somali sovereignty and an external attack on national unity.
He vowed to challenge the decision through all diplomatic and legal channels while urging public resistance to foreign interference.
Mohamud also explicitly rejected any notion of hosting displaced populations on Somali soil or foreign military bases, framing the step as part of a broader strategy by Israel to export instability from the Middle East into Africa.
The controversy has also stirred popular resistance within Somaliland itself, where mass protests have seen demonstrators raise Palestinian flags and reject the idea of normalizing ties with Israel, reflecting deep regional solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
These grassroots responses indicate that, contrary to Israel’s narrative of strategic partnership, many local actors view the recognition as an imposition that could embroil them in larger geopolitical conflicts.
Palestinian leadership has been equally vocal. President Mahmoud Abbas and other senior figures criticized the move as part of alleged attempts to engineer forced displacement of Palestinians, particularly from the besieged Gaza Strip, to distant territories — a possibility widely feared though not officially confirmed by Somaliland leaders.
Hamas’s reaction
Hamas and allied groups condemned Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, calling it a “dangerous precedent” that could enable plans to displace Palestinians.
They warned that such actions worsen the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, already strained by prolonged conflict and mass displacement.
International bodies have also weighed in. The African Union reaffirmed its backing of Somalia’s territorial integrity, condemning Israel’s recognition of Somaliland.
It cautioned that such moves could encourage separatist movements across Africa, further destabilizing regions already facing security and governance challenges.
Meanwhile, the European Union urged respect for existing borders under international law while calling for diplomatic dialogue.
Broader implications
Critics argue that the timing of Israel’s move — amid ongoing conflict in Gaza that has seen immense Palestinian suffering and calls by some Israeli figures to relocate populations — links it to wider strategic aims of reshaping geopolitical realities beyond the immediate Middle East.
Although Israel frames its recognition of Somaliland as a diplomatic success, analysts caution it may serve a broader expansionist agenda.
The move could grant Israel strategic leverage over critical maritime routes like the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait and reshape international engagement in Africa and the Red Sea region.
The crisis has prompted emergency meetings within the Arab League and the United Nations Security Council, as affected states seek to coordinate a unified response and reinforce the primacy of sovereign borders and peaceful coexistence.
Arab, Islamic, and African delegations perceive Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as more than a diplomatic irregularity.
They argue it reflects a wider policy trend that prioritizes unilateral geopolitical gains over international norms, jeopardizing regional security and legal standards.
Amid rising tensions, Arab and Muslim nations have reaffirmed their support for Palestine and Somalia.
They warn that recognizing separatist regions without broad consensus threatens global stability and may encourage other states to pursue similarly divisive actions.
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