Ishaq Dar says Israel’s recognition of Somaliland violates international law.
Pakistan has urged the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the international community at large to unite in rejecting any action that could undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia.
The call was made on Sunday by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ishaq Dar during his speech at the 22nd extraordinary session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah, according to Radio Pakistan.
Addressing the session, Dar described the meeting as a strong show of collective solidarity with Somalia in the face of what he called Israel’s blatant attack on its sovereignty. He said Israel’s recognition of self-proclaimed “Somaliland” as an independent state was a direct violation of Somalia’s national unity and territorial integrity.
Somaliland, located in northwest Somalia, declared independence unilaterally in 1991 after the collapse of Somalia’s central government. Although the region has its own administration, security apparatus and periodic elections, it has not been recognized as a sovereign state by the United Nations or any major international organization.
Read: Dar to participate in OIC debate on Somaliland
The federal government in Mogadishu has always maintained that Somaliland remains an integral part of Somalia. Israel’s recognition of Somaliland has sparked controversy in Somalia and criticism in Africa and the Muslim world.
OIC member states had already strongly rejected Israel’s decision in December. In a joint statement, Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt, Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, Gambia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Maldives, Nigeria, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Turkey and Yemen said the recognition amounted to blatant disregard for international law and the United Nations Charter, which protects sovereignty and the territorial integrity of States.
During Sunday’s session, the OIC again condemned Israel’s actions and adopted a resolution convened at the request of Somalia. The resolution rejects Israel’s recognition of “Somaliland”, describing it as a flagrant violation of the internationally recognized borders of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The OIC reaffirmed its full support for the sovereignty of Somalia and expressed its unwavering solidarity with the Somali government.
Also read: Muslim bloc supports Somali sovereignty
The OIC also adopted a separate resolution on the situation in the Middle East, reaffirming that a just, lasting and comprehensive peace depends on Israel’s complete withdrawal from all Palestinian territories occupied since 1967.
The resolution highlights the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and calls for continued efforts to maintain the ceasefire between Israel and Palestine, while calling for further measures in accordance with the United Nations Security Council ceasefire resolution.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Dar is also expected to hold bilateral talks with his counterparts from OIC Member States to discuss regional and international developments and ways to strengthen cooperation.
