Driving the news:
An emergency UNSC meeting was convened in New York on Monday after Israel last week became the first and only party to recognize the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state.
Fourteen of the Council’s 15 members rejected the move, while the United States declined to condemn Israel, though it said its own policy on Somaliland remains unchanged.
Why it matters:
Somalia and multiple UNSC members warned that Israel’s recognition risks fragmenting Somalia, destabilizing the Horn of Africa and Red Sea region, and setting a dangerous precedent under international law—while also raising alarm over the fate of Palestinians in Gaza.
The big picture:
Somaliland unilaterally declared independence from Somalia in 1991 following the collapse of the Siad Barre regime. Despite decades of de facto self-rule, it has never been recognized by the international community—until Israel’s announcement.
The move has drawn broad opposition from UN members, regional blocs, and international organizations, all of which reaffirm support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
What he's saying:
Somalia’s UN ambassador, Abu Bakr Dahir Osman, told the Council that Israel’s move amounted to an “act of aggression.”
He warned that it “not only threatened to fragment Somalia but also to destabilise the wider Horn of Africa and the Red Sea regions.”
Osman further cautioned that Somalia was concerned the decision could be intended to advance plans to forcibly “relocate the Palestinian population from Gaza to the northwestern region of Somalia.”
“This utter disdain for law and morality must be stopped now,” he said.
Pakistan’s deputy UN ambassador Muhammad Usman Iqbal Jadoon said Israel’s “unlawful recognition of [the] Somaliland region of Somalia is deeply troubling.”
He cited Israel’s previous references to Somaliland as a destination for deporting Palestinians from Gaza.
China’s UN envoy Sun Lei said his country “opposes any act to split” Somalia’s territory.
Key points:
- 14 of 15 UNSC members condemned Israel’s recognition of Somaliland
- The US was the only member not to condemn the move
- Somalia warned of regional destabilization and risks to Palestinians
- Arab, Islamic, African, and several major powers rejected the decision
Between the Lines:
The following countries have strongly condemned and rejected this action, including in official statements, and considered it a violation of international law: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Palestine, Algeria, Pakistan and Turkey.
The African Union has explicitly stated that Somaliland is part of Somalia and opposes any recognition of its independence.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has also stated its opposition.
Go deeper:
Ansarullah Condemns Israel’s Recognition of Somaliland as Hostile to Somalia
Iran Condemns Israeli Regime’s “Blatant Violation” of Somalia’s Sovereignty
Zohre Khazaee - Mahboubeh Habibi
