JEDDAH: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Thursday condemned Israel’s decision to recognise Somaliland as an independent state, describing the move as illegal and a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty.
The condemnation came after an extraordinary meeting of the OIC Executive Committee in Jeddah, during which member states discussed the situation in Somalia and Israel’s unilateral announcement, an OIC statement said.
Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Youssef bin Mohammed Al-Dubaie, delivering a statement on behalf of OIC Secretary-General Hussein Ibrahim Taha stressed that the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Somalia are fundamental principles that are not subject to compromise.
He highlighted that the region and the world are undergoing rapid changes and facing interconnected challenges.
He noted that Somalia is currently confronting complex issues that threaten its security, stability, and sovereignty, emphasising that this situation places a shared responsibility on all member states to strengthen efforts, unite, and stand in solidarity with Somalia.
The OIC leadership strongly condemned Israel’s announcement, calling it a blatant violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and national unity.
It reaffirmed its full and unwavering support for Somalia, stressing its inalienable right to maintain territorial integrity.
The OIC Secretary General warned that recognising “Somaliland” could destabilise the region, threaten security in the Horn of Africa, and trigger conflicts harmful to both regional interests and international peace.
The meeting emphasised that the OIC would closely monitor the situation and continue to uphold Somalia’s sovereignty across all international platforms.
Israel, on December 25, formally recognised Somaliland as an “independent and sovereign state” and signed an agreement to establish diplomatic relations, as the region’s leader welcomed what he described as its first official recognition.
Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has for decades pushed for international recognition, the key priority for President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi since he took office last year.
Several other countries condemned Israel’s decision. The African Union (AU) rejected the move and warned that it risked “setting a dangerous precedent with far-reaching implications for peace and stability across the continent”.
Somaliland “remains an integral part” of Somalia, an AU member, said the pan-African body’s head, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the decision was “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords”, referring to a series of agreements brokered by US President Donald Trump in his first term that normalised ties between Israel and several Arab nations.
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has described the move as a serious threat to national unity.
