16 Arab and Muslim Nations Condemn Somaliland’s Alleged Plan for Jerusalem Embassy

NEW YORK: The foreign ministers of 16 Arab and Islamic nations have strongly condemned the opening of a purported Somaliland embassy in occupied Jerusalem, describing the move as illegal, unacceptable, and a flagrant violation of international law and United Nations resolutions.

In a joint statement issued from Doha on Sunday, the foreign ministers of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, Djibouti, Somalia, Palestine, Oman, Sudan, Yemen, Lebanon, Mauritania and the United Arab Emirates denounced what they called an “unacceptable provocation.”

“The ministers reaffirm their categorical rejection of any unilateral measures aimed at entrenching an illegal reality in occupied Jerusalem or conferring legitimacy on any entities or arrangements that contravene international law and relevant United Nations resolutions,” the statement read.

The joint declaration, which came just days after Somaliland’s self-styled ambassador to Israel announced the purported embassy would open in Jerusalem, said the move constituted a “flagrant violation of international law and relevant international resolutions.” The ministers stressed that East Jerusalem remains occupied Palestinian territory under international law and that any attempts to alter its legal or historical status are “null and void and without legal effect.”

Somalia’s Sovereignty Defended

The ministers further emphasized their full support for the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, rejecting any unilateral measures that undermine Somali territory or infringe upon its sovereignty.

“The ministers further emphasize their full support for the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and their unequivocal rejection of any unilateral measures that undermine the unity of Somali territory or infringe upon its sovereignty,” the statement added.

Somalia’s breakaway northwestern region, which declared unilateral independence in 1991, has long sought international recognition, a move fiercely opposed by the central government in Mogadishu.

Diplomatic Backlash Mounts

The joint condemnation follows similar statements issued separately by the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Gamal Roshdy, spokesperson for the Arab League Secretary-General, said on Thursday that Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit discussed the shifting geopolitical landscape in the Horn of Africa, raising alarms over Israeli influence in the region. Both leaders strongly condemned the plan, viewing it as a direct threat to Arab and regional consensus.

Meanwhile, the OIC General Secretariat condemned the intention of the so-called “Somaliland” to open an embassy in al-Quds in a sign of the Israeli regime’s deepening ties with the breakaway region, slamming the move as “flagrant defiance of the will of the entire international community” and a “grave violation of the principles of the United Nations Charter.”

Israel-Somaliland Relations Under Scrutiny

The joint statement came after a series of diplomatic milestones between the breakaway region and Israel. Israeli President Isaac Herzog formally received the credentials of Somaliland’s first ambassador to Israel, Dr. Mohamed Hagi, in a ceremony held at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem on Monday, May 18. The event coincided with Somaliland’s celebration of the 35th anniversary of its self-declared independence from Somalia.

Israel became the first country to formally recognize the breakaway region as a sovereign state on December 26, 2025. The move has triggered a sharp divide between international allies, pitting Israel’s strategic expansion against the established diplomatic norms of the United States, the European Union and the broader international community.

Regional and International Rejection

In response to the growing diplomatic ties between the breakaway region and Israel, the Arab League has repeatedly condemned the rapprochement. Arab League Secretary-General Ahmad Aboul Gheit strongly condemned Israel’s appointment of an ambassador to Somaliland, describing the move as illegal and a serious escalation. He warned that Israeli actions pose a direct threat to Arab national security and to stability in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Horn of Africa.

The African Union has also expressed concern over escalating tensions in the Horn of Africa linked to Israel-secessionist engagement. The African Union has strongly condemned Israel’s unilateral recognition of Somaliland and called for its immediate revocation, reaffirming that Somaliland remains an integral part of Somalia.

Somalia’s Diplomatic Countermeasures

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has outlined a comprehensive set of political and legal actions designed to counter what he terms Israel’s “illegal” recognition of the secessionist administration. Speaking in Addis Ababa, Mohamud accused Israel of pursuing objectives beyond mere political recognition, claiming it intends to establish a strategic military presence in the region.

The Somali president has repeatedly urged the breakaway region’s leadership to terminate their recent ties with Israel and reintegrate with the nation, expressing willingness to make substantial concessions for unity while firmly rejecting any international recognition of the region as an independent entity. Speaking in Las Anod, Mohamud appealed to authorities in Hargeisa to return to the fold, emphasizing that secession is non-negotiable.

As the joint condemnation from 16 nations adds to growing international pressure, the Federal Republic of Somalia continues to urge all nations to respect the unity and territorial integrity of the country as enshrined in the African Union and United Nations charters. The government has vowed to pursue all available legal and political avenues to counter what it describes as illegitimate efforts to fragment Somali sovereignty.