Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
The League of Arab States has strongly condemned Israel’s recognition of the northwestern region of Somalia, known as Somaliland, describing the move as an illegitimate attempt to advance unlawful political, security, and economic agendas and a direct violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The condemnation came during an extraordinary session of the Arab League Council at the level of permanent representatives, held on Sunday at the request of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The meeting was chaired by Ambassador Hamad Obaid Al Zaabi, the United Arab Emirates’ permanent representative to the Arab League, and attended by the permanent delegates of member states, with the participation of Ambassador Hossam Zaki, Assistant Secretary-General of the League.
In a strongly worded statement, the Council denounced Israel’s decision, issued on 26 December 2025, to recognize the secession of Somalia’s northwestern region. It declared the move null and void, rejecting it “in its entirety” and asserting that it represents a blatant breach of international law, the Charter of the United Nations, and the Charter of the Arab League.
The Council warned that the recognition forms part of broader efforts to pursue illegitimate agendas that threaten regional security, stressing that it opens the door to dangerous political and military arrangements. Particular concern was raised over reports linking the move to plans involving the forced displacement of the Palestinian people or the potential use of ports in northern Somalia for military purposes.
Reaffirming the Arab position, the Council emphasized that Somaliland is an inseparable part of the Federal Republic of Somalia and rejected any direct or indirect attempt to legitimize its separation. It described the Israeli recognition as a serious threat to international peace and security, as well as an assault on Arab national security, calling for coordinated legal, political, diplomatic, and economic measures to confront it.
The Arab League expressed full support for Somalia’s security, stability, unity, and sovereignty, underscoring its backing of the Somali federal government’s efforts to safeguard its territory on land, sea, and air. It affirmed Somalia’s legitimate right to defend its territorial integrity in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter and within the framework of international legitimacy.
The Council also voiced complete solidarity with Somalia’s rejection of any action recognizing the region’s secession, describing such moves as blatant interference in Somali internal affairs. It warned that these developments risk undermining peace and security in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Horn of Africa—regions of growing strategic importance to global trade and maritime navigation.
In this context, the Council cautioned against what it described as Israeli attempts to reshape the geopolitical landscape of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden areas off the Somali coast, urging the international community to confront actions that threaten freedom of navigation and international commerce.
The statement reiterated the Arab League’s firm rejection of any plans aimed at forcibly displacing the Palestinian people or altering the demographic composition of Palestinian territories, characterizing such actions as grave crimes and flagrant violations of international law. It also rejected the use of Somali territory as a platform for implementing these plans.
The Council called for close coordination with the Somali government, which is serving as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2025–2026 term, to mobilize international support for resolutions affirming Somalia’s unity and sovereignty and condemning the Israeli recognition as invalid and destabilizing.
It further urged Arab ambassadors in foreign capitals and international organizations to brief relevant governments and institutions on the seriousness of the move and its political and security implications.
The Council tasked the Arab League Secretariat with coordinating with the Somali government, the African Union, the United Nations, and Arab states bordering the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to develop a joint Arab–African action plan aimed at preserving security and geopolitical stability in the region. The Secretary-General was also instructed to formally address the UN Security Council, the United Nations, and the African Union, and to submit a detailed report on developments at the League’s next ministerial session.
