Türkiye Condemns Israel’s Recognition of Somaliland

(MENAFN) Türkiye announced on Friday that Israel’s decision to acknowledge Somalia’s separatist territory of Somaliland as a sovereign nation is “unlawful,” voicing strong opposition to the move.

In a statement shared on the US-based social media platform X, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli said Israel’s action “constitutes a new example of the Netanyahu government’s unlawful actions aimed at creating instability at both regional and global levels.”

Keceli emphasized that “This step by Israel, which continues its expansionist policies and spares no effort to prevent the recognition of the State of Palestine, constitutes an open interference in Somalia’s internal affairs.”

He added that any resolutions concerning Somalia and the Somaliland region should be adopted in a way that genuinely represents the collective will of the Somali population.

Highlighting Ankara’s regional priorities, Keceli underlined that Türkiye places significant importance on stability and safety in the Horn of Africa and remains firmly committed to safeguarding Somalia’s territorial unity. He further noted that Türkiye will persist in standing alongside the Somali people.

Earlier the same day, Israel formally recognized Somaliland, a territory that has separated from Somalia, as an independent and sovereign state.

Somaliland has functioned without international acknowledgment since it proclaimed independence from Somalia in 1991.

Despite operating as a de facto self-governing political, administrative, and security entity, Somalia’s central authorities have been unable to reestablish control over the area, while Somaliland’s leadership has failed to obtain global recognition of its claimed independence.

MENAFN27122025000045017167ID1110528662