Israeli recognition of Somaliland rejected as unlawful

MOGADISHU — A growing number of countries on Saturday rejected Israel's recognition a day earlier of Somaliland, the self-declared region of Somalia, as an independent state, a move strongly slammed by the Somali government.

Somaliland is an integral, inseparable, and inalienable part of the sovereign territory of the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Somalian Prime Minister's Office said in a statement, rejecting Israel's recognition as unlawful.

Somalia made it clear it would not permit the establishment of any foreign military bases or arrangements on its territory that would draw Somalia into proxy conflicts or import regional and international hostilities into this region.

Somalia called on all states and international partners to respect international law, uphold the principles of noninterference and territorial integrity, and act responsibly in the interest of peace, stability and security in the Horn of Africa.

Israel said on Friday it was officially recognizing Somaliland, which declared its independence from Somalia in 1991, but had not been recognized by any country.

It wasn't known why Israel made the declaration on Friday or whether the country was expecting something in return, The Associated Press reported.

A joint statement by more than 20 mostly Middle Eastern or African countries and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Saturday rejected Israel's recognition, "given the serious repercussions of such an 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".

The joint statement noted "the full rejection of any potential link between such a measure and any attempts to forcibly expel the Palestinian people out of their land".

The European Union on Saturday insisted Somalia's sovereignty should be respected.

EU foreign affairs spokesman Anouar El Anouni said the bloc "reaffirms the importance of respecting the unity, the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia pursuant of its constitution, the Charters of the African Union and the United Nations".

"This is key to the peace and stability of the entire Horn of Africa region," the spokesman said in a statement.

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development reiterated that Somalia remains a sovereign IGAD member state whose unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity are fully recognized under international law.

Xinhua - Agencies