Iran slams Israel’s appointment of envoy to Somaliland, backs Somalia’s territorial integrity

Iran has denounced Israel’s continued violation of Somalia’s national sovereignty after the regime appointed an ambassador to the breakaway region of Somaliland, saying the move is in flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and the country’s territorial integrity.

“This unauthorized measure is in blatant contravention of the UN Charter and international law, and infringes upon the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of an independent state,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said in a statement on Tuesday.

Baghaei condemned Israel’s appointment of Michael Lotem as its ambassador to Somaliland as a clear sign of the Tel Aviv regime’s conspiracy to destabilize Muslim countries and sow seeds of division in the region.

He stressed that the UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the African Union, and all world states are obligated to confront Israel’s lawbreaking, expansionism, and intervention in other countries’ internal affairs.

In December 2025, Israel recognized Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland.

In response, Somalia’s federal government strongly rejected the move, calling it unlawful and reiterating that Somaliland remains an integral part of Somalia’s sovereign territory.

In a related development, a growing number of countries and international organizations also rejected Israel’s decision, warning of its implications for regional and international stability.

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A joint statement issued by more than 20 mostly West Asian and African countries, along with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, said the recognition carried “serious repercussions” for peace and security in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea, and beyond.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 during a period of conflict, but despite operating its own government and currency, it has not been recognized by any country.

African regional bodies also denounced Israel’s move, with African Union Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf warning that any attempt to undermine Somalia’s sovereignty risks peace and stability on the continent.

Similarly, the East African regional bloc IGAD said Somalia’s sovereignty is recognized under international law and that unilateral recognition runs contrary to the United Nations Charter and the bloc’s founding agreements.

In a joint statement issued on April 18, the ministers of Egypt, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Bangladesh, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Turkey, and Indonesia stressed their full rejection of any unilateral actions that undermine the unity and sovereignty of states.

They reaffirmed their firm support for the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Somalia, as well as their backing for its legitimate national institutions as the sole representative of the Somali people.

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