Türkiye Rejects Israel’s Recognition of Somaliland at UN Security Council

New York, The Gulf Observer: Türkiye’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ahmet Yildiz, on Monday strongly rejected Israel’s recent decision to recognize Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent state, warning that the move poses a serious threat to Somalia’s sovereignty and to international peace and security.

Addressing an emergency session of the UN Security Council, Yildiz said the principles underpinning the international order were once again being challenged, stressing that Türkiye “firmly rejects Israel’s announcement, which constitutes a clear and serious violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.”

He emphasized that unilateral recognition of a region that is part of a sovereign UN member state directly undermines the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs.

Yildiz described the move as “another example of the Netanyahu government’s unlawful actions aimed at creating instability at both the regional and global level,” adding that such conduct cannot be normalized, ignored or excused.

Warning of broader implications, the Turkish envoy said the decision sets a dangerous precedent with far-reaching consequences, undermining the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia. He cautioned that it represents a blatant threat to international peace and security and risks encouraging fragmentation and instability, particularly in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.

He further said the move amounts to an explicit intervention in Somalia’s internal affairs, stressing that decisions regarding the future of Somalia and the Somaliland region “should and will be taken by the Somalis alone.”

Reiterating Ankara’s position, Yildiz affirmed Türkiye’s “full and unwavering support for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia over its entire territory.” He added that Türkiye rejects any measures aimed at undermining Somalia’s unity or weakening its internationally recognized borders, as well as actions that could distract from efforts to combat al-Shabaab terrorism, which Ankara supports.

Yildiz also rejected attempts to link the recognition move to broader agendas, including efforts aimed at the forcible displacement of the Palestinian people from their land.

Calling on the Security Council to uphold its responsibilities under the UN Charter, he urged the body to respond clearly to actions that threaten the sovereignty of a UN member state and endanger international peace and security.