Iran condemns Israel envoy move in Somaliland

Iran has condemned Israel’s reported appointment of an ambassador to Somaliland, calling it a violation of international law and Somalia’s sovereignty. Somalia also rejected the move, insisting Somaliland is part of its territory. Several Arab states and regional bodies criticized the decision, warning it undermines Somalia’s territorial integrity and could increase regional instability.

Iran has strongly condemned Israel’s reported decision to appoint an ambassador to Somaliland, a breakaway region that Somalia regards as an inseparable part of its sovereign territory.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, described the development as a “flagrant violation” of international law and a direct challenge to Somalia’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. He said the move is “in clear contradiction with the UN Charter and international law,” warning that it could further deepen divisions and instability across the Horn of Africa.
Baghaei further accused Israel of pursuing policies that risk escalating tensions in the region, adding that such actions reflect a broader pattern of interference that could “destabilize Islamic countries and sow division among regional states.”
Israel has recently appointed its first ambassador to Somaliland, indicating an intention to expand diplomatic engagement with the region. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not been recognized by the United Nations or the wider international community.
The Somali federal government has consistently rejected any foreign recognition or diplomatic engagement with Somaliland as an independent entity. It maintains that Somaliland remains an integral part of Somalia and has repeatedly condemned such actions as violations of its territorial integrity and international law.
Since its self-declared independence in 1991, Somaliland has functioned as a de facto autonomous region, with its own administrative structures, political system, and security institutions. Despite this, Mogadishu continues to assert its authority over the territory and opposes any direct foreign relations with it, warning that such engagement undermines Somalia’s unity.
Several countries and regional bodies have also reacted critically to Israel’s reported decision. Saudi Arabia, alongside other Arab and Muslim-majority nations including Qatar, Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Bangladesh, Algeria, Palestine, Türkiye, Indonesia, Pakistan, Kuwait, Mauritania, Jordan, Oman, Lebanon, and Yemen, issued a joint statement condemning the move as “a flagrant violation of the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Somalia.”
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the African Union also rejected the reported appointment. In a separate statement, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, condemned the move, describing it as a breach of Somalia’s sovereignty and a violation of established principles of international legitimacy.
Baghaei urged international institutions to respond to what he termed “lawlessness, expansionism, and interference” in the internal affairs of states, emphasizing the need for the global community to uphold Somalia’s sovereignty and prevent further instability in the region.