At UN, Somalia slams Israel’s Somaliland recognition as ‘threat’ to peace

Somalia claims that Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, poses a “direct and grave threat to international peace and security.”

Somalia criticized the action as a violation of its sovereignty in a letter sent to the UN Security Council on Monday, calling it “morally indefensible.”

Israel became the first nation to formally recognize the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as a sovereign and independent state last week. Israel attributed the move to the United States-brokered Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and a number of Arab nations.

In a letter to the UNSC, Somalia states, “We further note with grave concern reports that this recognition may serve as a pretext for the forced relocation of Palestinians to Northwestern Somalia.”

Somalia also wrote in the letter, urging UNSC members to uphold their sovereignty, noting that “Israel’s actions set a dangerous precedent and risk destabilizing the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region as well as undermine collective efforts and pose a serious threat to regional and international peace and security.

The letter’s author, Somalia’s representative to the UNSC, echoed the sentiments of the letter.

According to Osman, “This region [Somaliland] is not legally able to reach any agreement or arrangement, nor to be recognized by any other state.”

He continued, “All Member States must reject and condemn this act of aggression without any reservations.” “This act of aggression aims to promote the fragmentation of Somalia.

Reject recognition

On Monday, the United Kingdom stated that it supports Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and that it does not recognize Somaliland’s sovereignty.

It urged Somaliland’s authorities to “address differences and work together to face common threats” and reaffirmed that armed groups had benefited from internal divisions in the nation.

China and other nations, including China, have also earlier rejected the recognition of Somaliland.

At a regular press conference, Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, “No country should encourage or support the internal separatist forces of other countries for its own selfish interests.”

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation, South Africa’s foreign ministry, urged the world community to “reject this external interference and support a united, stable Somalia” on Monday.

However, Tammy Bruce, the US’s deputy representative to the UN, claimed that “Israel has the same right to establish diplomatic relations as any other sovereign state.”

No emergency meeting has been convened, according to Bruce, who criticized what she called the UNSC’s “double standards,” because “some nations, including members of this Council, have unilaterally recognized a non-existent Palestinian state.”

There hasn’t been a change in US policy, according to Bruce, and there hasn’t been an announcement regarding the recognition of Somaliland.

Following a civil war led by military leader Siad Barre, Somaliland dissolved its relationship with Somalia in 1991. Northwestern Somalia is under the control of the self-declared republic, which has its own constitution, currency, and flag.