18 Countries Condemn Somaliland’s Jerusalem Embassy Plan, May 28

Foreign ministers from 18 countries have condemned Somaliland’s plan to open an embassy in Jerusalem, calling the move illegal and a violation of international law. The joint statement, issued by nations including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar, marks a sharp escalation in regional tensions over Israel’s December 2025 recognition of Somaliland as independent. The move has also deepened the rift between Somaliland and Somalia’s federal government, which views the territory as part of its own nation.

What Somaliland and Israel Announced

Somaliland’s ambassador to Israel, Mohamed Hagi, announced in May that Hargeisa would open an embassy in Jerusalem while Israel would establish a mission in Hargeisa. Israel became the first UN member state to recognize Somaliland as independent in December 2025, a move welcomed in Hargeisa but rejected by Somalia’s federal government. Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the embassy opening another significant step in strengthening relations with Somaliland.

Why 18 Nations Oppose the Move

The foreign ministers issued a joint statement condemning what they called a “flagrant violation” of international law and relevant international resolutions. They said the step directly infringes on the legal and historical status of Jerusalem. The statement reiterated that East Jerusalem has been occupied Palestinian territory since 1967 and that any steps to alter its legal or historical status are “null and void and without legal effect.” The 18 countries also reaffirmed support for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, rejecting any unilateral action that undermines Somali territorial unity.

Somalia’s Government Rejects the Plan

Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud called Somaliland’s plan a “great misfortune” and a betrayal of Somalia’s support for the Palestinian cause. Mohamud rejected any suggestion that a Somali territory could recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. He noted that many non-Muslim countries had refused to move their embassies to Jerusalem because of the city’s disputed status, calling it a “disgrace” for a Muslim nation to do so. Somalia’s federal government continues to regard Somaliland as part of its territory, and successive Mogadishu governments have backed Palestinian statehood with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Broader Somaliland-Somalia Dispute

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but had received no international recognition until Israel’s December 2025 move. The breakaway region has operated with its own government, security forces, and election institutions for over three decades. Somalia has rallied international actors against recognizing Somaliland, viewing such recognition as a direct threat to its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Final Thoughts

Somaliland’s Jerusalem embassy plan has triggered unprecedented international condemnation and deepened the Somalia-Somaliland divide. The move signals a major shift in regional diplomacy with long-term consequences for Horn of Africa stability.

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