UN backs Somalia sovereignty amid Israel’s Somaliland recognition

The United Nations Security Council has held an emergency meeting following Israel’s recent announcement recognizing Somaliland as an independent state.

The meeting was opened by Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific, who briefed Council members on the developments. In his remarks, Khiari reiterated the Secretary-General’s position on Somalia’s territorial integrity. “Would like to recall, as has the Secretary-General, that the Security Council has repeatedly affirmed the respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of Somalia.” Khiari said.

Speaking on behalf of the A3+ countries (Algeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Guyana), Somalia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Abukar Osman Baale stated that the group “strongly condemns flagrant assault of Israel on unity, and territorial integrity of Somalia by recognizing as an independent entity to the north western region of Somalia.” The A3+ countries described the agreement as “null and avoid,” arguing that it violates the UN Charter, African Union principles, and constitutes “breache of international law.” The group also stated that it “unequivocally rejects any steps aimed at displacing and relocate Palestinian from Gaza to north eastern region of Somalia.”

Representing the United Kingdom, Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Chargé d’Affaires to the UN, reaffirmed his country’s position. He said the UK “reaffirms its support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, and unity of Somalia,” adding, “The United Kingdom does not recognize Somaliland’s independence. We maintain that any change to Somaliland’s status depends on mutual agreement between Mogadishu and Hargeisa.”

The United States’s Deputy Representative to the United Nations, Tammy Bruce, has made US support of Israel clear, criticizing the security council. Her remarks reflected the broader U.S. administration’s stance toward the UN system, while also criticizing past decisions on Palestinian recognition. She stated, “several countries, including members of this Council, made the unilateral decision to recognize a nonexistent Palestinian state. And yet, no emergency meeting was called to express this Council’s outrage.” However, Bruce emphasized that U.S. policy toward Somalia remains unchanged. “On the matter of Somaliland, we have no announcement to make regarding U.S. recognition of Somaliland. And there has been no change in American policy,” Bruce said.

Slovenia, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council, also reaffirmed Somalia’s sovereignty and responded directly to the U.S. comparison between Palestine and Somaliland. “Slovenia recognized Palestine as an independent state, we did so in response to undeniable right of Palestinian people to self-determination.” The Slovenian representative added that “Palestine isn’t part of any state its illegally occupied territory, Somaliland on the other hand is part of UN member state.”

Several other countries — including the Republic of Korea, Denmark, Greece, Turkey, China, France, Djibouti, Egypt, Kuwait, Pakistan, South Africa, Sierra Leone, and Algeria — as well as regional and international organizations such as the African Union and the League of Arab Nations, strongly reaffirmed Somalia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence.

Israel’s representative defended the decision, describing it as “neither provocative nor novel,” but “a lawful principled acknowledgment of long established reality.” The Israeli delegation also referenced what it described as an “Isaq genocide,” stating that Israel has stood with Somaliland for years. In response, Somalia’s Permanent Representative Baale rejected these claims, stating that “actions of occupying power (Israel) in the region are well documented, and these actions constitute clear violations of international law.” He accused Israel of “lecturing about genocide while it commits heinous crime,” and of representing a government that “killed more than 70,000 people including children, women, doctors and patients in hospital.”

Since Israel announced its recognition of Somaliland, the decision has drawn strong criticism from the international community, which views the move as “unilateral and destabilizing.” Many countries have publicly backed Somalia’s position, reaffirming its sovereignty and territorial integrity while rejecting Israel’s recognition of Somaliland.

The announcement has also raised serious security concerns in the Horn of Africa. The Houthis have issued warnings against any Israeli presence in Somaliland, framing it as a threat to regional stability. These warnings highlight the broader geopolitical risks associated with Israel’s decision, particularly in a region already affected by fragile security conditions.

Despite the international backlash, Somaliland’s leadership has portrayed Israel’s recognition as a major diplomatic success. Officials in Hargeisa describe the move as a breakthrough in their long-standing pursuit of international recognition. However, the Security Council session underlines the growing diplomatic rift surrounding the issue. While Council members overwhelmingly reaffirmed Somalia’s sovereignty and rejected Israel’s unilateral action, Somaliland continues to frame the development as a milestone in its diplomatic campaign, illustrating the ongoing tension between its quest for legitimacy and the prevailing international consensus supporting Somalia’s territorial unity.