Egypt, Turkey and Somalia condemn the Israeli recognition of Somaliland

In the background of these things, it was recently reported about flights of Palestinians from Gaza who landed in South Africa. Following this, South Africa announced the cancellation of the entry visas of Palestinians who arrived on similar flights. Israel’s recognition of Somaliland may, according to estimates, lead to a chain reaction of neighboring African countries.

He also stated that his country is right to join the Abraham Accords, and defined the move as the beginning of a strategic partnership that will contribute to mutual interests and strengthening regional stability and security.

Netanyahu announced that Israel will work to immediately expand its relations with the country, emphasizing cooperation in the fields of agriculture, health, technology and the economy.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the announcement is made in the spirit of the “Abraham Agreements”, which were signed at the initiative of the President of the United States, Donald Trump. According to a Reuters report, these agreements included the normalization of relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, and Somaliland is now seeking to join the trend in order to strengthen its diplomatic position and its access to international markets.

The ministers condemned the Israeli recognition, reiterated their support for the territorial integrity of Somalia, and warned that recognition of separatist entities could harm international peace and security.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a response statement: “Israel’s announcement regarding its recognition of the independence of the Somaliland region is another example of the illegal actions of the Netanyahu government, which aim to create instability at the regional and global level.”

It goes on to say, “This step by Israel, which persists in an expansionist policy and does everything in its power to prevent the recognition of the State of Palestine, constitutes a blatant interference in the internal affairs of Somalia. Decisions concerning the future of the Federal Republic of Somalia and the Somaliland region must be made in a manner that reflects the will of all the Somali people.”

“Turkey, which attaches importance to peace and security in the Horn of Africa and consistently supports the territorial integrity of Somalia, will continue to stand by the Somali people,” the statement concluded.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia also responded to the move: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the renewal of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s full support for the sovereignty of the sister Federal Republic of Somalia, and its unity and territorial integrity. The Kingdom expresses its rejection of the announcement of mutual recognition between the Israeli occupation authorities and the region of Somaliland, and sees this as a reinforcement of unilateral separatist measures that violate the international law”.

Somaliland has enjoyed de facto autonomy and relative stability since 1991, when Somalia was plunged into civil war, but until now has not received international recognition. According to Reuters, last March Somalia and Somaliland denied reports according to which Israel or the United States offered to settle Palestinians from Gaza on their territory, when Mogadishu rejected such a possibility outright.

Somalia’s response: “Support the Palestinian people, condemn Israel”

Shortly after, the official announcement of the government was published: “The Federal Republic of Somalia reaffirms its absolute and non-negotiable commitment to its sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity, as enshrined in the Interim Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Charter of the United Nations and the Constitutive Act of the African Union”.

We also noted that the federal government of Somalia categorically and unequivocally rejects the “directed attack on its sovereignty”, in their words, “and the illegal step on the part of Israel that claims to recognize the northern region of Somalia. The Somaliland region is an integral, inseparable and non-transferable part of the sovereign territory of the Federal Republic of Somalia”.

“​The federal government emphasizes that Somalia is one sovereign country, which cannot be divided, and no external party has the authority or status to change its unity or its territorial configuration. Any declaration, recognition or arrangement that seeks to undermine this reality are null and void, and lack any legal or political validity under international law. Matters concerning the unity, government and constitutional order of Somalia remain the prerogative the exclusive property of the Somali people, and they must be settled exclusively through legal, constitutional and peaceful means,” they wrote, and stung Israel.

In conclusion, Somalia stated their support for the Palestinian people: “Somalia reiterates and emphasizes its principled and uncompromising support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination, and its resolute rejection of the occupation, forced displacement, demographic engineering and the expansion of settlements in all their forms. In this context, Somalia will never accept the making of the Palestinian people stateless.”