Arab, Islamic nations condemn Somaliland ‘embassy’ move in Jerusalem

Qatar and 15 other Arab and Islamic countries on Sunday condemned the self-declared Somaliland region's illegal move to open an alleged embassy in occupied Jerusalem, warning that the step violated international law and undermined the status of the holy city.

In a joint statement issued from Doha, the foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, Djibouti, Somalia, Palestine, Oman, Sudan, Yemen, Lebanon, Mauritania and Algeria said they “strongly condemn” the reported opening of a Somaliland representation office in Jerusalem.

The ministers described the move as “illegal and unacceptable”, saying it constituted a “flagrant violation” of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions concerning the status of Jerusalem.

The statement said the move directly undermined the legal and historical status of the occupied city and rejected any unilateral actions aimed at imposing what it called an illegal reality in Jerusalem or granting legitimacy to entities or arrangements that contravene international law.

The ministers reiterated that East Jerusalem remains occupied Palestinian territory since 1967 and stressed that any measures seeking to alter the city’s legal or historical status were “null and void” and carried no legal effect.

The countries also reaffirmed their support for the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia, rejecting any unilateral actions that could undermine Somali sovereignty or threaten the unity of its territory.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not gained widespread international recognition.