DZWatch Exclusive: A wave of condemnation has swept through the Arab and Islamic world following Israel’s announcement recognizing Somaliland. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), along with 21 Arab and Islamic nations, have issued a strong rebuke, denouncing the move as a dangerous precedent and a threat to international peace and security.
The joint statement, endorsed by the foreign ministers of Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, Gambia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Maldives, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, was released and immediately went viral.
“We categorically reject the Israeli occupation’s recognition of the Somaliland region within the Federal Republic of Somalia,” the statement declared. It emphasized the grave implications of this unprecedented action for peace and security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, and its potential to destabilize international relations. The statement further accused Israel of blatant disregard for international law.
The nations asserted that recognizing the independence of parts of sovereign states sets a perilous precedent, undermining the foundations of international law and the UN Charter. They condemned the recognition in the strongest terms, branding it a flagrant violation of international norms that safeguard the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of nations.
The statement also explicitly rejected any connection between Israel’s action and alleged plans to displace the Palestinian people. DZWatch notes the notable absence of Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain from the list of nations condemning Israel’s actions. These countries, which have normalized relations with Israel, have remained silent on both the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the encroachment upon neighboring Arab states. Their failure to denounce the threat to the territorial integrity of a fellow Arab League member has drawn criticism.
