Somalia calls on Israel to withdraw recognition of Somaliland | Benjamin Netanyahu News

Somalia has called on Israel to reverse its recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland, condemning the move as an act of “aggression that will never be tolerated.”

Ali Omar, Somalia’s minister of state for foreign affairs, told Al Jazeera in an interview on Saturday that the government would use all available diplomatic means to challenge what he described as an act of “state aggression” and Israeli interference in the country’s internal affairs.

The harsh rebuke came a day after Israel became the first nation in the world to formally recognize Somaliland, sparking swift condemnation in African and Arab countries and raising concerns about whether the move was part of an alleged Israeli plan to forcibly displace Palestinians.

Somaliland separated from Somalia in 1991 following a brutal civil war, but never gained recognition from any United Nations member state. The self-proclaimed republic has established its own currency, flag and parliament, although its eastern territories remain disputed.

“This will never be acceptable or tolerable for our government and our people who are united in defending our territorial integrity,” Omar said. “Our government strongly advises the State of Israel to reverse its divisive actions and respect international law. »

Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known locally as Cirro, had been signaling for weeks that recognition by an unnamed state was imminent, without specifying which country it was. Hargeisa, Somaliland’s capital, has been dotted with billboards in recent weeks, telling residents that recognition is approaching.

Omar said the strategic importance of the Horn of Africa spurred foreign interference and interest. “The importance of this region is not new. It is still important for international trade today,” he said.

“Displacement of Palestinians”

Omar accused Israel of seeking recognition of Somaliland in order to further displace Palestinians from Gaza. “One of the motivating factors is the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza,” he told Al Jazeera. “Israel’s objective on this issue is widely known. »

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry supported Somalia, recalling that Israel had previously identified Somaliland as a potential destination to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza, which it called a “red line.”

On Saturday, Somaliland’s Cirro defended the Israeli decision, insisting that it was “not directed against any state nor did it pose a threat to regional peace.”

Hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the recognition on Friday, the Somali prime minister’s office issued a statement describing Israel’s action as a deliberate attack on Somalia’s sovereignty and an illegal measure, and emphasizing that Somaliland remains an integral and “inseparable” part of Somali territory.

Netanyahu presented the diplomatic breakthrough with Somaliland as being in the spirit of the Abraham Accords and said he would champion Somaliland’s cause when he meets with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday. Netanyahu also invited Cirro to Israel, which the latter accepted.

But Trump has distanced himself from close ally Netanyahu on the issue, telling The New York Post that he would not follow Israel’s lead.

Somali Public Works Minister Ayub Ismail Yusuf praised Trump’s position, writing on social media: “Thank you for your support, Mr. President. »

Trump’s comments mark a change from August, when he told a news conference that his administration was working on the Somaliland issue. In recent weeks, the US president has frequently attacked the Somali community in the United States and Somalia.

The United States has also expressed frustration with Somalia, telling a recent U.N. Security Council meeting that Somali authorities had failed to improve security in the country despite billions in aid, and signaling that it would not continue funding a costly peacekeeping mission.

Meanwhile, African Union Chairman Mahamoud Ali Youssouf has rejected any move to recognize Somaliland as an independent nation, warning that it would set a dangerous precedent with far-reaching consequences. The continental bloc cited as a fundamental principle a 1964 decision on the intangibility of borders inherited upon a country’s independence.

Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit also condemned what he described as a provocative Israeli attack on the sovereignty of an Arab and African state. He said Israeli recognition was a blatant violation of international law and a flagrant violation of the principle of state sovereignty.

Despite international backlash, thousands of people took to the streets of Hargeisa on Friday to celebrate what many saw as the end of 30 years of diplomatic isolation. The Israeli flag was raised on the national museum as residents welcomed this progress.

Somalia has historically had contentious relations with Israel, stemming from Israel’s historical ties to Somalia’s regional rival, Ethiopia.

During the Cold War, Israel provided Ethiopia with military training, intelligence and weapons, while Somalia, aligned with Arab states hostile to Israel, was defeated in the Ogaden War in 1977, a setback that helped fuel decades of civil unrest.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 following persecution led by former leader Mohammed Siad Barre, but Somalia has never recognized the breakaway region.

Earlier this month, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel revealed that there had been communications with the Somali government over shared concerns about Houthi influence in the region.

But Omar, Somalia’s foreign minister, strongly denied any links with Israel, saying the country’s position on Israeli policies remained unchanged.