UNSC Condemns Israel’s Recognition of Somaliland
Key Highlights
- 14 out of 15 UNSC members oppose Israel’s move; US stops short of condemnation
- Somalia warns recognition could destabilise the Horn of Africa
- Concerns raised over potential implications for Palestinians in Gaza
(Al Jazeera) — December 30, 2025: Most members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) have strongly condemned Israel’s decision to formally recognise Somaliland, calling it a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and a move that could further destabilise the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.
The issue was taken up during an emergency UNSC meeting in New York, convened after Israel became the first country to recognise the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as an independent state. Out of the 15-member council, 14 members criticised the decision, while the United States refrained from condemning Israel but clarified that its own policy on Somaliland remains unchanged.
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Addressing the council, Somalia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Abu Bakr Dahir Osman, urged members to firmly reject what he described as Israel’s “act of aggression”. He warned that the move threatened Somalia’s territorial integrity and could have far-reaching consequences for regional stability.
Osman also expressed grave concern that Israel’s recognition of Somaliland might be linked to plans to forcibly relocate Palestinians from Gaza to Somalia’s northwestern region. “This utter disdain for law and morality must be stopped now,” he told the council, stressing that Somalia would not accept any actions undermining its sovereignty.
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Reporting from UN headquarters, Al Jazeera’s Gabriel Elizondo said that the overwhelming majority of council members opposed Israel’s recognition, while the US defended Israel’s right to establish diplomatic relations but did not follow suit.
US Deputy Representative to the UN Tammy Bruce told the meeting that Israel “has the same right to establish diplomatic relations as any other sovereign state”. However, she added that Washington had “no announcement to make regarding US recognition of Somaliland” and that American policy remained unchanged.
Israel’s Deputy Ambassador to the UN, Jonathan Miller, rejected allegations that the decision was hostile toward Somalia, insisting that recognition should be viewed as an opportunity rather than an act of defiance. He said the move did not rule out future dialogue between Israel and Somalia.
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Several countries raised concerns about the broader implications of the recognition, particularly for Palestinians. Speaking on behalf of the Arab League, its UN envoy Maged Abdelfattah Abdelaziz rejected any measures stemming from what he termed an illegitimate recognition, warning against forced displacement of Palestinians or the militarisation of Somali ports.
Pakistan’s Deputy UN Ambassador Muhammad Usman Iqbal Jadoon described Israel’s move as “deeply troubling”, noting that it came amid previous Israeli references to Somaliland as a potential destination for Palestinians from Gaza.
Permanent UNSC members China and the United Kingdom also opposed the recognition. China’s UN envoy Sun Lei said Beijing opposed any act aimed at splitting Somalia’s territory, warning that no country should support separatist forces to advance geopolitical interests.
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Non-council members, including South Africa, echoed Somalia’s position. South Africa’s UN Ambassador Mathu Joyini reaffirmed Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in line with international law, the UN Charter and African Union principles.
The debate also saw sharp exchanges over comparisons with Palestinian statehood. While the US compared the recognition of Somaliland to international recognition of Palestine, Slovenia rejected the analogy, stressing that Palestine is an occupied territory and an observer state at the UN, whereas Somaliland remains part of a UN member state.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 following years of civil war but has not been recognised by the international community.
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