Somaliland’s Israel gamble triggers growing condemnation

Foreign ministers from nearly 20 Muslim-majority countries on Sunday condemned Somaliland’s decision to open what it described as an embassy in Jerusalem, calling the move illegal and a violation of international law.

In a joint statement, the ministers denounced “in the strongest terms the illegal and unacceptable step taken by the so-called ‘Somaliland’ region in opening a purported ‘embassy’ in occupied Jerusalem.”

The statement was issued by the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Türkiye, Pakistan, Indonesia, Djibouti, Somalia, Palestine, Oman, Sudan, Yemen, Lebanon, Mauritania, Kuwait, Algeria, Bangladesh and Morocco. The ministers said the move represented “a flagrant violation of international law and relevant international resolutions” and “a direct infringement on the legal and historical status of occupied Jerusalem.”

Their joint statement underlined their 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.” They reiterated their countries’ position that East Jerusalem has been occupied Palestinian territory and said any measures intended to change its “legal or historical status” were “null and void and without legal effect.”

The ministers also expressed support for “the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity” of the Federal Republic of Somalia and rejected what they described as unilateral sovereignty measures.

The Gulf Cooperation Council also released a statement condemning the move, describing it as a violation of international law and a threat to regional stability.

GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi denounced what he called the opening of an alleged “embassy” by the “so-called Somaliland region” in the occupied city of Jerusalem. Albudaiwi said the move represented “a blatant violation of all international and U.N. norms, laws and conventions,” and a breach of international resolutions related to the status of Jerusalem. He urged the international community to take “immediate and serious action” to stop what he described as “null and rejected measures” that could undermine security and stability in the region.

The GCC secretary-general also reaffirmed the bloc’s support for Somalia in safeguarding its “security, stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity.” The statement further reiterated the GCC’s longstanding support for the rights of the Palestinian people, including the “establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

Separately, Somalia’s government also condemned the move, calling the step “null and void” and a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. In a statement, the federal government of Somalia said “the move by the northwestern region of Somalia to inaugurate a so-called embassy in Jerusalem” carried “no legal effect whatsoever” and amounted to “an unacceptable provocation to the Arab and Islamic worlds.”

However, Somaliland defended its decision to open its first official overseas embassy in Jerusalem.

“It is unfortunate that some Arab and Islamic countries have chosen political pressure over constructive engagement with Somaliland,” Somaliland’s ambassador to Israel Mohamed Hagi wrote on his official X account. “Somaliland remains committed to its sovereign decisions and peaceful cooperation,” the ambassador said, adding that the territory’s relations with Israel were “based on mutual interests” and would “continue to grow in a stable and constructive direction.”

This is not the first time Muslim-majority countries have condemned Somaliland’s growing ties with Israel. Somaliland has faced mounting diplomatic pressure from several Muslim-majority states since Israel officially announced its recognition of Somaliland through a phone call between Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently facing allegations of war crimes and is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.

Following the announcement, a number of Muslim-majority countries publicly criticized the move and warned against any steps that could undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia.

Similar condemnation followed Israel’s decision to appoint its first non-resident ambassador to Somaliland, a move viewed by critics as deepening formal diplomatic and strategic ties between the two sides.

Despite the criticism, relations between Somaliland and Israel have continued to expand across political, economic and security sectors. Since the normalization of relations and Somaliland’s stated openness to joining the Abraham Accords, cooperation between the two sides has become increasingly visible. Somaliland officials have signaled interest in expanding trade relations, including cooperation involving rare minerals.

In an interview with The Telegraph, President Irro defended the relationship and dismissed criticism from foreign governments. “From the beginning, our relationship has been open, frank and friendly,” he said, adding, “Those criticising us can mind their own business. I will make an official visit to Jerusalem this year.”

President Irro also generated controversy by arguing that Somaliland has fulfilled the conditions for international recognition “unlike Palestine.”

The Telegraph further reported that approximately 50 Somaliland special forces personnel recently completed training in Israel before returning to Somaliland. If confirmed, this would represent one of the first publicly reported cases of direct military cooperation between Somaliland and Israel.

Additional reporting has pointed to broader security cooperation between the two sides. Last month, the French newspaper Le Monde reported that Berbera Airport in Somaliland is undergoing extensive military-oriented redevelopment that has largely remained outside public scrutiny. Citing satellite imagery and intelligence sources, the report said construction activities between late 2025 and early 2026 included the excavation and concealment of trenches believed to be designed for protected fuel or ammunition storage facilities.

The report also claimed that security cooperation between Somaliland and Israel has expanded in recent months. According to Le Monde, intelligence personnel from Somaliland traveled discreetly to Tel Aviv for specialized training, while Israeli operatives were reportedly seen in Berbera.

The recent wave of condemnations follows previous criticism by Muslim-majority countries over Somaliland’s growing relationship with Israel. It also comes at a time when the Palestinian issue has returned to the global spotlight because of the war in Gaza, which has increasingly placed Israel under diplomatic scrutiny over its conduct.

The developments have placed Somaliland in a difficult diplomatic position. Although the deepening ties between Hargeisa and Tel Aviv largely remain opaque, they have become a growing concern for Somalia, which has repeatedly accused Israel of violating the country’s territorial sovereignty.

Israel, whose relationship with Somaliland is increasingly viewed through a military and strategic lens as it confronts the Houthis in Yemen and seeks to strengthen its presence in the Red Sea, has maintained its decision to recognize Somaliland.