19 Muslim countries condemn Somaliland plan to open embassy in Jerusalem

RIYADH (Somaliguardian) – A coalition of 19 Muslim and Arab nations has condemned Somaliland’s decision to establish an embassy in Jerusalem, a move that deepens a high-stakes geopolitical standoff in the Horn of Africa where Israel and Turkey increasingly vie for strategic influence.

The diplomatic backlash follows an announcement by the breakaway northwestern Somali territory that it will locate its primary diplomatic mission in the contested city, cementing a rapid shift in relations with Israel. Israel became the first United Nations member state to officially recognize Somaliland’s independence in late 2025.

“The Muslim World League (MWL) has strongly condemned the move by the so-called “Somaliland” region to open a “purported” embassy in the occupied city of Jerusalem,” the pan-Islamic body said in a statement released Sunday.

The multi-nation denunciation underscores the regional alienation faced by Somaliland, which has operated as a de facto independent state since partitioning from Somalia in 1991, but lacks international legal recognition from the broader global community. By establishing a presence in Jerusalem rather than Tel Aviv, Somaliland joins a restricted group of nations matching Israel’s claim to the city as its capital – a move viewed by regional analysts as a transactional step to secure security and infrastructure guarantees.

“In a statement issued by the MWL General Secretariat, His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, expressed the MWL’s strong endorsement of the statement issued in this regard by the Foreign Ministers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the State of Qatar, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Republic of Türkiye, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Indonesia, the Republic of Djibouti, the Federal Republic of Somalia, the State of Palestine, the Sultanate of Oman, the Republic of the Sudan, the Republic of Yemen, the Republic of Lebanon, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the State of Kuwait, the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, and the Kingdom of Morocco. The statement affirmed the complete rejection of any unilateral measures aimed at entrenching an unlawful reality in occupied Jerusalem or granting legitimacy to any entities or arrangements that violate international law and relevant United Nations resolutions,” the text read.

The organization also “affirmed support for the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and the complete rejection of any unilateral measures that undermine the unity or sovereignty of Somali territory.”

The diplomatic friction arrived days after Somaliland officials declared the territory would become the second Muslim-majority entity to open a mission in Jerusalem, following Kosovo. The announcement followed a formal ceremony in Jerusalem where Somaliland’s newly appointed ambassador presented credentials to the Israeli government.

Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Irro is expected to travel to Israel in the coming weeks to officially open the mission. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said they hope Irro would come and open the embassy soon in Jerusalem.

Red Sea Security Geometry

Bilateral ties between Jerusalem and the breakaway capital of Hargeisa have gained momentum. Over the past several months, Israeli defense personnel have trained specialized Somaliland security forces, while agricultural and water experts have been dispatched to Hargeisa to mitigate acute regional water scarcity.

The cooperation extends into the maritime security domain. Israel is negotiating the establishment of a military foothold in the strategic port city of Berbera. Positioned on the Gulf of Aden, a base would allow Israeli forces to project power near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, counter persistent Houthi missile threats originating from Yemen, and disrupt Iranian proxy smuggling networks operating across the Red Sea trade corridor.

However, Israel’s forward posture directly intersects with the expanding footprint of Turkey, which has firmly aligned itself with the federal government in Mogadishu. Ankara has increased its presence in southern Somalia, deploying F-16 fighter jets, naval vessels, and sophisticated drone systems under the auspices of bilateral defense and oil exploration agreements. Turkey is also advancing plans to construct a spaceport and missile-testing facility within Somali territory, alongside active offshore energy drilling operations.

The polarization of the Somali peninsula has sparked concern among regional diplomats that the Horn of Africa could be transformed into a proxy battleground. Israeli security analysts have increasingly framed Turkey’s maritime presence as a primary strategic challenge to its commerce routes, matching the long-standing shadow war between Israel and Iran.

For Mogadishu, the multi-nation declaration acts as a vital diplomatic lever to push back against the erosion of its recognized borders, even as Hargeisa bets that tangible security and intelligence integration with Israel will eventually force a broader shift in international recognition.

Key Takeaways of the Horn of Africa Power Shift

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