Somalia: Iran Condemns Israel’s Diplomatic Move in Somaliland

TEHRAN, Iran — The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday issued a sharp condemnation of Israel’s reported appointment of a diplomatic representative to Somaliland, calling the move a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei described the action as a provocative intervention aimed at destabilizing Islamic nations and sowing division within the Horn of Africa.

“This step reveals a strategic plan to undermine the stability of Muslim countries and drive a wedge between nations in the region,” Baghaei said in a statement. He emphasized that Tehran views Somaliland as an integral part of Somalia's federal territory.

The spokesperson further asserted that any direct diplomatic engagement with the breakaway region without the consent of the federal government in Mogadishu contradicts international law and United Nations principles regarding the sanctity of a sovereign state's borders.

Iran called upon international bodies, including the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the African Union, and the broader international community, to take a unified stand against what it characterized as Israeli "expansionism" and interference in the internal affairs of other nations.

The statement comes amid intensifying regional debate and domestic controversy in Somalia following reports of burgeoning ties between Israel and Somaliland, a self-declared state that has sought international recognition since 1991 but remains unrecognized by the U.S. and most of the global community.

GAROWE ONLINE