By HAN News Desk
CAIRO/ANKARA — The foreign ministers of Egypt and Turkey have jointly expressed strong opposition to any recognition of Somaliland by Israel or any other country, warning that such a move would violate international law and undermine regional stability.
The position was outlined during a phone call between Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, according to official statements. The two diplomats discussed recent developments in the Horn of Africa, with a particular focus on Somalia.
Both ministers said any recognition of Somaliland — a self-declared republic in northern Somalia that is not internationally recognized — would constitute a clear breach of international law and the United Nations Charter. They warned that such actions could threaten peace and security at both the regional and global levels.
Abdelatty and Fidan stressed that recognizing Somaliland would destabilize the Horn of Africa and weaken ongoing efforts to promote security and political stability in Somalia. They added that their position is shared by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and countries across the region.
The two officials reaffirmed their full support for the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, calling on all parties to refrain from unilateral steps that could undermine Somalia’s statehood or disrupt international efforts to stabilize the country.
They also emphasized the importance of resolving all Somalia-related issues through dialogue, consensus and strict respect for international law, saying such an approach is essential to achieving lasting peace and security for the Somali people and the wider region.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 following the collapse of the central government, but it has not been recognized by the United Nations or any UN member state. Any potential recognition has remained a highly sensitive issue in regional and international diplomacy.
