HARGEISA (SD) – Somaliland’s Foreign Ministry has rejected a joint statement by 15 Arab and Muslim states that condemned Israel’s reported decision to appoint a diplomatic envoy to Somaliland, saying the criticism is hypocritical and ignores Somaliland’s legal and historical case.

In its response, the ministry said Somaliland attained independence on June 26, 1960 and later reasserted its sovereignty in 1991 after what it described as an unratified union, while urging a fact-based approach that reflects the African Union’s own findings on Somaliland’s status. Somaliland further denounced the signatories, calling them all “hypocrites.” “Why don’t you condemn ISIS, the Taliban, al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, or Iran’s terror proxies?” it continued.

The joint statement said the move was a “flagrant violation” of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and warned that such unilateral actions could destabilize the Horn of Africa. The African Union Commission separately said it strongly condemns Israel’s reported decision and reiterated that the AU does not recognize Somaliland as an independent state.

Somaliland’s ministry argued that its diplomatic relations do not infringe on another country’s sovereignty and instead reflect more than three decades of peace, democracy, and responsible cooperation in the Horn of Africa. It said recognition of Somaliland should be treated as a legal reality rather than a matter of political convenience.

Somaliland’s growing ties with Israel are turning into a bigger diplomatic tug-of-war over legitimacy. For Somaliland, it’s about showing statehood as both a legal and practical reality. For Somalia, along with Arab and Muslim states and the African Union, it’s still a matter of maintaining the status quo. The outcome is a deeper regional split, with recognition politics now closely linked to legality, security and alliances in the Horn of Africa.