ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria has joined a coalition of 21 Arab and Islamic nations in a stern condemnation of Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland as an independent state, labeling the move a “grave violation” of international law that threatens to destabilize the Horn of Africa.
In a joint statement released Saturday by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and foreign ministers from nations including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, and Iran, the coalition expressed “unequivocal rejection” of the diplomatic breakthrough announced by Jerusalem on Dec. 26.
The coalition argued that Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region constitutes a blatant disregard for the United Nations Charter and the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
“The recognition of parts of states constitutes a serious precedent and threatens international peace and security,” the joint statement read. It further characterized the move as a reflection of “Israel’s expansionist” policies and a violation of the “cardinal principles of international law.”
The diplomatic row began Friday when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar signed a mutual declaration with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi. Netanyahu described the agreement as being “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords,” aimed at fostering cooperation in agriculture, technology, and maritime security.
However, the Nigerian government and its Islamic partners warned of deeper, more troubling motives behind the timing of the recognition.
“Their unequivocal rejection… [stems from] the serious repercussions of such unprecedented measure on peace and security in the Horn of Africa [and] the Red Sea,” the ministers stated.
Significantly, the group explicitly linked the move to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, declaring a “full rejection of any potential link between such measure and any attempts to forcibly expel the Palestinian people out of their land.”
The statement underscored “full support of the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Somalia,” rejecting any efforts to impose “parallel entities” that undermine Mogadishu’s authority.
The coalition of signatories includes:
Africa: Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, The Gambia, Libya, Somalia, Sudan.
Middle East: Jordan, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Yemen.
Asia: Pakistan, Maldives.
Nigeria’s participation in the joint statement reaffirms its long-standing foreign policy of protecting state sovereignty and its recent alignment with the OIC on matters of regional stability and Palestinian rights.
Would you like me to provide a breakdown of how this joint statement might affect Nigeria’s bilateral trade or security agreements with Israel?
