Keypoints:
- US defends Israel’s diplomatic right at the UN
- Somalia and allies warn of territorial fragmentation
- Global powers reject precedent on sovereignty
THE United States has defended Israel’s decision to recognise Somaliland during an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, drawing sharp criticism from African states and several global powers who say the move violates Somalia’s sovereignty and international law.
Speaking on Monday, US deputy ambassador to the UN Tammy Bruce said Israel was entitled to conduct diplomacy like any other sovereign state. ‘Israel has the same right to conduct diplomatic relations as any other sovereign state,’ she told the Council, according to remarks reported by TRT Afrika.
Bruce compared the backlash over Somaliland to recent international recognition of a Palestinian state, accusing fellow Council members of inconsistency. ‘Earlier this year, several countries, including members of this council, made the unilateral decision to recognise a nonexistent Palestinian state, and yet no emergency meeting was called,’ she said, alleging ‘double standards’ in the UN’s response.
Global backlash over Somaliland recognition
Israel announced on Friday that it had formally recognised Somaliland, the self-declared breakaway region of Somalia. The move marked the first time any UN member state has taken such a step and immediately triggered criticism from the African Union, the Arab League and the European Union.
Countries including Türkiye and China also reiterated their support for Somalia’s territorial integrity, stressing that Somaliland remains part of a sovereign UN member state. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has maintained its own administration, currency and security forces, but has never previously gained international recognition.
Despite Washington’s defence of Israel’s diplomatic rights, Bruce stressed that US policy itself had not changed. President Donald Trump has said he opposes recognition of Somaliland, and the US envoy told the Council there had been ‘no change in American policy’.
Somalia warns of fragmentation
Somalia’s ambassador to the UN, Abukar Osman, condemned Israel’s decision as a direct threat to his country’s unity. ‘This act of aggression is aimed at encouraging fragmentation of the territory of Somalia,’ he told the Council, calling for the UN to reject the recognition unequivocally.
Several Council members echoed that concern, warning that unilateral recognition of a breakaway region could destabilise the Horn of Africa and weaken the principles underpinning the international system.
‘Palestine is illegally occupied’
Slovenia’s ambassador Samuel Zbogar rejected the US comparison between Somaliland and Palestine, saying the situations were fundamentally different. ‘Palestine is not part of any state. It is illegally occupied territory, as declared by the International Court of Justice,’ he said. By contrast, he added, Somaliland ‘is part of a UN member state and recognising it goes against the UN Charter’.
Türkiye’s UN ambassador Ahmet Yildiz said the latest Israeli move once again challenged the foundations of the international order. He said Ankara ‘firmly rejects Israel’s announcement’, describing it as ‘a clear and serious violation of international law and the charter of the UN’.
Pakistan raises Gaza concerns
Pakistan went further, hinting at a possible link to the war in Gaza. Deputy ambassador Muhammad Usman Iqbal Jadoon told the Council that Israel had previously referred to Somaliland as a possible destination for displaced Palestinians.
‘Against the backdrop of Israel’s previous references to Somaliland of the Federal Republic of Somalia as a destination for the deportation of Palestinian people, especially from Gaza, its unlawful recognition is deeply troubling,’ he said.
Israel urges dialogue, UK backs unity
Israel’s UN representative Jonathan Miller insisted the recognition was not intended as a hostile act towards Somalia. He said it ‘does not preclude future dialogue between the parties’ and could offer ‘an opportunity to strengthen stability’.
Several states avoided directly naming Israel while restating their support for Somalia. UK ambassador James Kariuki said Britain remained committed to ‘the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of Somalia’.
Located along the Gulf of Aden, directly across from Yemen, Somaliland occupies a strategically significant position on one of the world’s busiest maritime routes. For now, however, Israel’s recognition has deepened diplomatic divisions, exposing sharp disagreements over sovereignty, occupation and the limits of unilateral recognition at the UN.
