Sunday 19 April 2026 {HMC} Twelve Muslim-majority countries have condemned Israel’s appointment of a diplomatic representative to Somaliland, calling it a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.
In a joint statement issued in Islamabad on April 18, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Bangladesh, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Turkey, Indonesia and Kuwait described the move as a “flagrant violation” of the unity of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
The ministers rejected the unilateral actions that undermine state sovereignty and reaffirmed their support for Somalia’s unity, territorial integrity and internationally recognized institutions.
They said Somalia’s federal government remains the sole legitimate representative of the Somali people and warned that any challenge to that status could deepen instability in the Horn of Africa.
The statement said Israel’s decision violated not only Somalia’s sovereignty but also international law, the U.N. Charter and the Constitutive Act of the African Union. The ministers also warned that the move could set a dangerous precedent with broader consequences for regional peace and security.
According to the statement, such action risks heightening tensions in an already fragile region and could further undermine stability across the Horn of Africa.
The condemnation follows Israel’s appointment of Michael Lotem as its first ambassador to Somaliland, according to a report Wednesday by Israel’s public broadcaster. Lotem previously served as Israel’s ambassador to Kenya.
The appointment comes months after Israel officially recognized Somaliland in December, becoming the first country to do so and ending more than three decades of the breakaway region’s diplomatic isolation.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, but it has not won broad international recognition. Somalia continues to regard Somaliland as part of its territory and has opposed all foreign steps that could be seen as legitimizing secession.
Source Sonna
