Aboul Gheit condemns Somaliland's opening of an embassy in Jerusalem

Written by Mohamed Ragab

The Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, condemned in the strongest terms the news that the breakaway region of “Somaliland” intends to open an embassy in occupied Jerusalem with Israel.

The Secretary-General described this move as “legally invalid in every respect,” and an unacceptable provocation to the Arab and Islamic worlds, while also warning of the serious consequences of Israeli penetration into the Horn of Africa region.

Absolute legal and political rejection

In a statement issued by his press office on Wednesday, Aboul Gheit stressed that this step has no legal effect, regardless of the circumstances.

The official spokesman for the Secretary-General, Jamal Rushdi, explained that this alleged rapprochement reflects the extent of the international isolation suffered by the Israeli occupation authority, and demonstrates its desperate attempts to elicit false recognitions from entities or territories that have no legitimate existence.

Rushdi added that the aim of these efforts is to serve Israel’s plan to consolidate its illegal occupation of East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and to cover up the daily crimes committed against the Palestinian people.

A blatant violation of Somali sovereignty

The official spokesperson considered the insistence on opening an embassy for “Somaliland” in Jerusalem to be a blatant attack on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and a clear violation of the principle of respecting the unity and territorial integrity of states.

He stressed that this step represents an unacceptable infringement on the sovereignty of a member state of the League of Arab States, the African Union and the United Nations, warning that the international community’s disregard for these violations will encourage further division and conflict in the region.

Warning of serious regional repercussions

In the most sensitive part of the statement, Gamal Rushdi warned that these Israeli moves to penetrate the Horn of Africa threaten to deepen tensions and instability in one of the world's most fragile regions. He pointed out that Israel is trying to exploit the situation in the region to establish a presence on the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which threatens Arab national security and international maritime interests.

A firm Arab stance and support for Somalia

The official spokesperson reiterated the firm Arab position that stands behind the unity of the Federal Republic of Somalia and its full sovereignty over all its territories, including the Northwest region.

The Arab League expressed its categorical rejection of any attempts to entrench a separatist reality or establish illegitimate relations with entities not recognized under international law. The statement concluded by calling on all international parties to respect international law and refrain from any actions that could undermine the stability of Somalia and the entire region.