The UN Security Council convened an emergency meeting following Israel’s decision to officially recognise Somaliland as a sovereign state, a move that has triggered sharp diplomatic reactions. Somalia requested the session, warning that the recognition threatens its territorial integrity and could destabilise the already fragile Horn of Africa region. Israel, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said the decision would pave the way for formal diplomatic relations and cooperation agreements with Somaliland authorities.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but had remained unrecognised internationally until now, making Israel the first UN member state to take this step. More than 20 countries from the Middle East and Africa, along with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, issued a joint statement opposing the move. The development raises broader questions about sovereignty norms, regional security, and shifting geopolitical dynamics around the Red Sea.
