Most UN Security Council members condemned Israel’s recognition of Somaliland at an emergency meeting, warning it could threaten Somalia’s unity and destabilise the Horn of Africa. The United States alone did not condemn the move but reiterated it would not change US recognition policy. Somalia called the step an "act of aggression," and several states warned it could facilitate forced displacement or military access to northern Somali ports. China, the UK, the Arab League and others said the recognition violates Somalia's territorial integrity under international law.
UN Security Council Condemns Israel’s Recognition of Somaliland, Raises Fears Over Regional Stability
Abukar Dahir Osman, Somalia's representative to the United Nations, speaks during a Security Council meeting at UN headquarters in New York City on Monday [Kena Betancur/EPA]
Most members of the United Nations Security Council sharply criticized Israel’s decision to recognise Somaliland during an emergency session in New York, warning the move could destabilise Somalia, the Horn of Africa and have implications for Palestinians in Gaza.
Israel last week became the first country to recognise the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as an independent state. The announcement prompted an emergency meeting convened by council members to discuss the political and security ramifications.
UN Responses and Key Statements
Fourteen of the 15 council members condemned Israel’s recognition, according to reporting from UN headquarters. The United States was the sole Security Council member that did not publicly criticise the decision; US envoy Tammy Bruce defended Israel’s right to establish diplomatic relations while stressing that Washington had no intention of recognising Somaliland and that US policy had not changed.
"This utter disdain for law and morality must be stopped now," Somalia’s UN ambassador, Abu Bakr Dahir Osman, told the council, calling Israel’s action an "act of aggression" that threatens to fragment Somalia and destabilise the wider region.
Concerns Over Palestinians and Strategic Access
Several delegations expressed fear that the recognition could be linked to plans that would affect Palestinians. Somalia and other speakers warned that the move might be used to facilitate forced displacement or even to prepare ports in northern Somalia for military use — including proposals that Palestinians from Gaza could be relocated to northwestern Somalia.
Speaking for the 22-member Arab League, Maged Abdelfattah Abdelaziz rejected "any measures arising from this illegitimate recognition aimed at facilitating forced displacement of the Palestinian people, or exploiting northern Somali ports to establish military bases." Pakistan described the recognition as "unlawful" and deeply troubling given previous Israeli references to Somaliland as a possible destination for deported Palestinians.
Major Powers and Regional Voices
Permanent council members including China and the United Kingdom condemned the decision. China’s UN envoy Sun Lei said Beijing "opposes any act to split" Somalia’s territory and warned against supporting separatist movements for geopolitical gain. South Africa, speaking as a non-member, reaffirmed Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in line with international law and African Union principles.
Israel’s deputy UN ambassador, Jonathan Miller, argued the recognition was "not a hostile step toward Somalia" and "does not preclude future dialogue between the parties," describing recognition as "an opportunity" rather than an act of defiance.
Legal And Political Context
Several representatives rejected comparisons made by the US between recognition of Somaliland and the widespread recognition of Palestine. Slovenia’s ambassador Samuel Zbogar noted that Palestine is not part of another UN member state and is an observer at the UN, while Somaliland remains a region of the UN member state Somalia — a distinction he said is important under the UN Charter.
The self-declared Republic of Somaliland unilaterally separated from Somalia in 1991 after the civil war that followed the fall of military leader Siad Barre. Despite decades of relative stability in Somaliland, no major UN member has previously recognised its independence until Israel’s recent move.
