In a robust rebuttal issued on Sunday, the Government of the Republic of Somaliland has sharply rejected a recent joint statement by a group of foreign ministers from Arab, Muslim-majority, and African nations that condemned Israel’s appointment of a diplomatic representative to the Republic of Somaliland.
The statement, which described engagements with Somaliland as a “flagrant violation” of Somalia’s sovereignty, was met with a firm assertion of Somaliland’s historical and legal independence.
“Somaliland is a sovereign state grounded in state continuity, having attained independence on 26 June 1960 and subsequently reasserted its sovereignty in 1991 following an unratified union,” the Somaliland government declared. It emphasized that its position rests on core principles of international law, including the right to self-determination and decades of effective governance.
The release highlighted Somaliland’s unbroken record of peace, democratic elections, and stable administration over more than three decades, positioning the territory as a responsible partner that enhances stability across the volatile Horn of Africa.” Somaliland’s engagement with international partners reflects evolving diplomatic practice and does not constitute a violation of any state’s sovereignty,” the statement continued. “On the contrary, Somaliland has demonstrated a consistent record of peace, democratic governance, and responsible partnership.”
The government urged the international community to adopt a “fact-based and pragmatic approach” that acknowledges legal realities, including the African Union’s prior findings on Somaliland’s distinctive case.
It concluded with a strong call: “Recognition of the Republic of Somaliland is a grounded legal reality, not a matter of political convenience, and cannot be indefinitely deferred. It is essential to advancing durable peace, cooperation, and long-term stability in the Horn of Africa. Continued denial neither alters the facts nor supports regional stability.”
The remarks come amid heightened diplomatic tensions following Israel’s December 2025 recognition of Somaliland – the first by a UN member state – and subsequent moves to appoint a diplomatic envoy, prompting backlash from Mogadishu and its allies.
Somaliland, which maintains its own currency, passport, military, and elected institutions separate from Somalia’s federal government, has long argued that the 1960 union with Somalia was never fully ratified and dissolved amid the civil war that led to its 1991 declaration of independence.