Saturday April 18, 2026
Ahmed Aboul Gheit at the opening of an emergency meeting among the Arab League foreign ministers, held to discuss issues about Libya, at the headquarters in Cairo March 2, 2011. REUTERS/Amr A
Mogadishu (HOL) — Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit has condemned Israel’s decision to appoint an ambassador to Somaliland, calling it a serious escalation that violates Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In a statement, Aboul Gheit said the move is a clear breach of international law and the U.N. Charter and had no legal basis or effect. He reaffirmed the Arab League’s support for the unity and territorial integrity of all member states, including Somalia.
The condemnation adds to growing regional opposition to the Israeli move, which has drawn sharp criticism from Muslim and Arab organizations concerned about its political and security implications.
Aboul Gheit warned that the decision could deepen instability in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa, two regions already strained by conflict, geopolitical rivalry and insecurity. He said the move could also jeopardize international shipping and global trade along one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors.
The Arab League said it has sent official messages to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and other international officials in an effort to mobilize opposition to the decision and contain any damage to regional stability and international law.
The statement came just hours after the Organization of Islamic Cooperation also strongly condemned Israel’s decision to appoint a diplomatic representative to Somaliland, the self-declared region in northwestern Somalia.
The OIC described the move as a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, and referred to Israel as the “occupying power.”
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has operated with its own government and security structures, but it is not internationally recognized. Somalia’s federal government considers Somaliland part of its territory, and international organizations have generally backed that position.
