Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy has condemned Israel’s diplomatic moves in Somaliland, including plans to open an embassy in Hargeisa, describing them as a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
CAIRO (Somali Report) — Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy has condemned Israel’s decision to establish diplomatic relations with Somaliland, including the presentation of an Israeli ambassador’s credentials and the groundbreaking of a planned embassy in Hargeisa, describing the moves as a clear violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Arab League said the Israeli actions were part of broader efforts to establish relations with Somaliland in a manner it said could undermine Somalia’s unity and exploit internal political divisions to expand Israel’s military and political influence around the Gulf of Aden.
The regional organisation rejected the moves as illegitimate, stressing that they did not alter what it described as the status of Somaliland as an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
Fahmy reiterated the Arab League’s opposition to any formal or informal engagement with Somaliland that bypasses Somalia’s national sovereignty, according to the statement.
The latest condemnation comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions over Israel’s engagement with Somaliland, a self-governing region in northern Somalia that declared independence in 1991 but has not received broad international recognition.
The Arab League said its position was consistent with previous decisions by its member states opposing what it described as Israeli efforts to fragment Somalia.
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It pointed to an extraordinary meeting of the Arab League Council held on December 28, 2025, as well as its regular session in September 2026, where the organisation reaffirmed its rejection of actions it considers threats to Somalia’s territorial integrity.
The statement also expressed the league’s full support for Somalia and its internationally recognised institutions, emphasising the importance of preserving the country's sovereignty and national unity.
It warned that the Israeli moves could have wider implications for security and stability in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, a strategically important maritime corridor linking the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea.
Somalia has consistently opposed foreign diplomatic engagement with Somaliland that is not coordinated with the federal government in Mogadishu, arguing that such steps undermine its sovereignty.
The latest developments are likely to add to diplomatic friction in a region already facing security challenges, political disputes and growing competition among regional and international powers over strategic access and influence.
The Arab League did not announce any specific measures in response to the Israeli actions but reaffirmed its political backing for Somalia's territorial integrity.
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Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
