ISLAMABAD: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and 21 nations, including Pakistan, strongly rejected Israel’s recognition of Somalia’s northern 'Somaliland' region as a sovereign state, citing violations of sovereignty, international law, and regional stability.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on its social media account on X Sunday shared a joint statement by the foreign ministers of Jordan, Egypt, Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, Gambia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Maldives, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Turkiye, Yemen, and the OIC.
According to the statement, the foreign ministers and the OIC underscored the following:
1- Their unequivocal rejection of Israel’s recognition of the “Somaliland” region of the Federal Republic of Somalia on 26 December 2025, given the serious repercussions of such unprecedented measure on peace and security in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea, and its serious effects on international peace and security as a whole, which also reflects Israel’s full and blatant disregard to international law.
2- Their condemnation in the strongest terms of such recognition, which constitutes a grave violation of the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter, which explicitly stipulates the imperative of protecting the sovereignty of states and their territorial integrity, and reflects Israel’s expansionist aims.
3- Full support of the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and the unequivocal rejection of any measures that undermine the unity of Somalia, its territorial integrity, or its sovereignty over its entire territory.
4- The recognition of parts of states constitutes a serious precedent and threatens international peace and security, and violates the cardinal principles of international law and the United Nations Charter.
5- The full rejection of any potential link between such a measure and any attempts to forcibly expel the Palestinian people from their land, which is unequivocally rejected in any form as a matter of principle.
OIC statement
Meanwhile, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation shared the following statement on X on Saturday:
“The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation expressed its strong condemnation and categorical rejection of Israel’s recognition, as the occupying power, of the 'Somaliland' region as an independent state, considering it a violation of the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Somalia, its national unity, and its territorial integrity.”
It further said: “The General Secretariat reaffirmed its full solidarity with the Federal Republic of Somalia and its unwavering support for its sovereignty and territorial unity, as well as its unequivocal support for its legitimate institutions.”
“It also underscored the necessity of adhering to the principles of the Charter of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Charter of the United Nations, and international law, all of which stipulate respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member States,” it added.
The statement said: “The Organization emphasized the need to preserve security, peace, and stability in the Horn of Africa region, and rejected any actions that could undermine regional stability.”
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