Pakistan and a wide selection of Muslim countries issued a joint statement on Thursday condemning a visit by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to Somaliland earlier this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Tuesday, Saar arrived <\/a>in Somaliland for a high-profile visit, condemned by Somalia as an \u201cunauthorised incursion\u201d, after Israel recognised the breakaway region in the Horn of Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The joint statement, issued by the Foreign Office (FO) today, was issued on behalf of the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gambia, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Maldives, Nigeria, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, T\u00fcrkiye and Yemen, as well as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It recalled the earlier statement condemning Israeli recognition and \u201cexpressed strong condemnation\u201d of the Israeli FM\u2019s visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe said visit constitutes a clear violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and undermines established international norms and the United Nations Charter,\u201d the joint statement said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It reaffirmed the 22 countries\u2019 unwavering support for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Somalia and highlighted that \u201cencouraging secessionist agendas are unacceptable and risk exacerbating tensions in an already fragile region\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRespect for international law, non-interference in [the] internal affairs of sovereign states, and adherence to diplomatic norms are essential for regional and international stability,\u201d the joint statement added, commending Somalia\u2019s commitment to peaceful international engagement, constructive diplomacy and international law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The statement expressed the 22 countries\u2019 commitment \u201cin continuing to support diplomatic and legal measures taken by Somalia to safeguard its sovereignty, territorial integrity and stability in line with international law\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It further stressed that Israel should respect Somalia\u2019s sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity and honour its obligations in compliance with international law, further demanding that Tel Aviv immediately revoke its recognition of Somaliland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Somaliland enjoys a strategic position<\/u><\/a> on the Gulf of Aden and has its own currency, passport and army, but has struggled to win international recognition, amid fears of provoking Somalia and encouraging other separatist movements in Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Israel became the first country to formally recognise Somaliland<\/u><\/a> as an independent and sovereign state, with Somaliland\u2019s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, saying his state will join the Abraham Accords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last month, Pakistan joined 20 other nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in rejecting<\/a> Israel\u2018s recognition of the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, with a joint statement saying that Tel Aviv\u2019s measure reflected its \u201cfull and blatant disregard for international law\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The joint statement underscored their \u201cunequivocal rejection\u201d of Israel\u2019s recognition of the \u2018Somaliland\u2019 region of Somalia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The statement added that given the serious repercussions of such an unprecedented measure on peace and security in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea, and its serious effects on international peace and security as a whole, the move also \u201creflects Israel\u2019s full and blatant disregard for international law\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n