- Pakistan calls this decision a unilateral and illegal violation of international law.
- The Envoy urges the UN Security Council to reject actions undermining the unity of Somalia.
- The OIC, UK and China reject recognition of Somaliland as independent.
At the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Pakistan strongly condemned Israel’s “unilateral and illegal” recognition of the “Somaliland” region of the Federal Republic of Somalia, which drew condemnation from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other countries.
“This is a direct attack on Somalia’s internationally recognized borders,” Pakistan’s acting permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, said in a speech to the UN Security Council on Monday.
He added that Tel Aviv’s decision “constitutes a blatant violation of international law.”
Israel on Friday became the first country to officially recognize the self-proclaimed Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state. The move could reshape regional dynamics and test Somalia’s long-standing opposition to secession.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry reacted sharply to the Israeli announcement, calling it a violation of international norms and affirming Islamabad’s full support for Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.
The OIC and other countries, in a joint statement issued on Sunday, criticized Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, calling it a threat to international peace and security.
China and the United Kingdom are also among the countries that have refused to recognize the independence of the Somaliland region.
“The Somaliland region remains an integral, inseparable and inalienable part of Somalia. No external actor has either the legal status or moral authority to alter this fundamental reality,” the envoy said.
“A group of OIC countries, including Pakistan, unequivocally rejected Israel’s illegal decision, highlighting its serious repercussions on peace and security in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea region, as well as international peace and security as a whole. The joint statement calls the ‘recognition of parts of States’ a violation of the cardinal principles of international law and the United Nations Charter,” Jadoon said.
The Ambassador commended the Somali government led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for its progress in national reconciliation, constitutional reforms and revitalization of state institutions.
“Similarly, the two-year phased transition of the United Nations presence in Somalia is proceeding smoothly. The transfer of responsibilities under the first phase of the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNMITS) has been completed, and the road map for the second and final phase has been finalized, with the Mission expected to cease operations on 31 October 2026.”
Islamabad also recognized the sacrifices and resilience of the Somali people and their security forces, supported by the AU and UN missions, against terrorism.
Pakistan insisted that positive momentum must be protected and strengthened, not undermined by actions that risk fragmenting the country and reversing hard-won progress.
“Therefore, at this crucial time, as Somalia strives to defeat extremism, any action that diverts attention, weakens cohesion or fuels division is deeply irresponsible. »
In the context of Israel’s previous references to Somaliland as a destination for expulsion of Palestinian people, particularly from Gaza, Jadoon said its illegal recognition of the region is deeply troubling.
“For decades, Israel’s dispossession and occupation of Palestinian land has been a central source of instability and conflict in the Middle East,” the envoy said.
“It is now exporting this destabilizing conduct to the Horn of Africa, with serious implications for regional peace and security,” he added.
In conclusion, Pakistan called on the Security Council and the international community at large to speak with one voice and reject all actions that undermine the unity and territorial integrity of Somalia.
