Ishaq Dar says that Jeddah’s meeting with Israel’s recognition of Somaliland violates international law
Pakistan has called on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the wider international community to unite in rejecting any action that undermines Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The call was made by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar while addressing the 22nd Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah on Sunday, according to Radio Pakistan.
Addressing the session, Dar described the meeting as a strong show of collective solidarity with Somalia in the face of what he called Israel’s flagrant violation of the country’s sovereignty. He said Israel’s recognition of self-proclaimed “Somaliland” as an independent state was a direct violation of Somalia’s national unity and territorial integrity.
Somaliland, located in northwestern Somalia, declared independence unilaterally in 1991 following the collapse of the central Somali government. While the region has its own administration, security apparatus and periodic elections, it has not been recognized as a sovereign state by the United Nations or any major international organization.
Read: Dar to participate in the OIC moot in Somaliland
The federal government in Mogadishu has consistently maintained that Somaliland remains an integral part of Somalia. Israel’s recognition of Somaliland has sparked controversy in Somalia and drawn criticism across Africa and the Muslim world.
OIC member states had already strongly rejected Israel’s move in December. In a joint statement, Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt, Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, Gambia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Maldives, Nigeria, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Türkiye and Yemen said the recognition constituted a flagrant disregard for international law and the territorial integrity of the United Nations, which protects international law and the territorial integrity of the United Nations. states.
At Sunday’s session, the OIC again condemned Israel’s actions and adopted a resolution convened at Somalia’s request. The resolution rejected Israel’s recognition of “Somaliland”, describing it as a blatant violation of the internationally recognized borders of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The OIC reaffirmed its full support for Somalia’s sovereignty and expressed unwavering solidarity with the Somali government.
Read also: Muslim bloc supports Somalia’s sovereignty
The OIC also adopted a separate resolution on the situation in the Middle East, affirming that a just, lasting and comprehensive peace depends on Israel’s complete withdrawal from all Palestinian territories occupied since 1967.
The resolution emphasized the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and called for continued efforts to maintain the Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire, while calling for further action in accordance with the UN Security Council’s cease-fire resolution.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Dar is also expected to hold bilateral talks with his counterparts from the OIC member states to discuss regional and international developments and ways to strengthen cooperation.
