A growing number of nations on Saturday denounced Israel’s recognition of Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent state, following the first such recognition by any country in over three decades.

Israel made the announcement Friday, though the reasons behind the move and whether any benefits were expected remain unclear. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 amid ongoing conflict that has left the East African country fragile. Despite maintaining its own government and currency, Somaliland had not been recognized internationally until Israel’s decision.

On Saturday, more than 20 countries—primarily from the Middle East and Africa—along with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, issued a joint statement rejecting Israel’s recognition, citing serious repercussions for peace and security in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea, and beyond. Syria also separately rejected the move.

Somaliland lies along the Gulf of Aden, near Djibouti, which hosts military bases of the U.S., China, France, and other nations. Earlier this year, U.S. and Israeli officials reportedly discussed resettling Palestinians from Gaza in Somaliland under former President Donald Trump’s plan, which has since been abandoned. The U.S. State Department reaffirmed its recognition of Somalia’s territorial integrity, including Somaliland.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, and Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi signed a joint declaration citing the Abraham Accords, the 2020 initiative that established diplomatic and commercial ties between Israel and several Arab and Muslim-majority nations.

Somalia’s federal government condemned the move as illegal, reaffirming Somaliland as part of its sovereign territory. Regional bodies, including the African Union and IGAD, also rejected the recognition, warning that undermining Somalia’s sovereignty threatens peace and stability in Africa.

Source: AP