Arab League condemns Israeli diplomatic move in Somaliland
The League says Israel's ambassador credentials and embassy groundbreaking in Hargeisa violate Somalia's sovereignty and threaten regional security.
Israel's moves to open diplomatic representation in Somaliland drew condemnation on Monday from Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy, who said in a statement that the steps violate Somalia's sovereignty.
Fahmy said the presentation of credentials by an Israeli ambassador to Somaliland's authorities, and the laying of a foundation stone for an Israeli embassy in Hargeisa, amounted to a serious breach of Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He said the steps are part of a wider effort to build arrangements with the de facto authorities in northern Somalia, split the country and expand Israeli military and political influence near the Gulf of Aden.
The League said Somaliland remains an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia and rejected any official or semi-official dealings with its authorities outside Somalia's national sovereignty.
The League pointed to its extraordinary Council meeting on Dec. 28, 2025, and its ordinary session in September 2026, where it had already rejected and condemned Israeli steps aimed at partitioning Somalia.
The League expressed full solidarity with Somalia and its legitimate institutions, warning that the ongoing moves could affect security and stability in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not gained broad international recognition, and Somalia's federal government considers the region part of its territory.
