The UN Security Council announced it would meet on Monday to discuss Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, a move that has been condemned by 21 Muslim countries and the European Union as having “serious repercussions” on security in the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Friday—a few days before Somalia was scheduled to assume the presidency of the Security Council—that recognition of Somaliland was “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords,” and that the two nations would cooperate in “economic fields, on agriculture [and] in the fields of social development.”
Opponents, however, believe that the opening of bilateral ties threatens Somalia’s sovereignty, following Somaliland’s 1991 separation from the country. Currently, Israel is the only country to recognize Somaliland.
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In addition to Muslim nations that have condemned the decision, the European Union made its opposition clear. “The European Union reaffirms the importance of respecting the unity, the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia pursuant to its constitution, the Charters of the African Union and the United Nations,” Brussels said in a statement.
“This is key for the peace and stability of the entire Horn of Africa region,” the statement continued. “The EU encourages meaningful dialogue between Somaliland and the Federal Government of Somalia to resolve long-standing differences.”
Somalia characterized Israel’s action as a “deliberate attack” against its authority. In addition, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Saudi-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation expressed their opposition to the recognition of Somaliland.