JERUSALEM(RAHNUMA): The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has strongly condemned Somaliland’s opening of an embassy in Jerusalem, and in a statement said “that the measure is illegal and constitutes a flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations and relevant UN resolutions.”
“Israel, the occupying power, has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem and that all decisions and measures aimed at altering its political, legal, or demographic status are null and void under international law,” OIC said in its statement reported by Saudi news agency SPA.
Somaliland opened its embassy in Jerusalem on Monday, Israel’s foreign ministry announced, months after Israel became the first country to recognize the breakaway African state’s independence.
“Honoured to host my dear friend President @Abdirahmanirro at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during his historic State Visit to open Somaliland’s embassy in Jerusalem,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar posted on X, during the first-ever state visit of President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi.
“I’m proud of the privilege I had to write the first pages in the story of the Israel-Somaliland relationship,” Saar added.
Somaliland is the eighth country to open its embassy in Jerusalem, following the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay and Fiji.
Most foreign diplomatic missions to Israel are located in Tel Aviv, as the status of Jerusalem is one of the thorniest issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In December, Israel became the first country to recognize the independence of Somaliland since it declared its autonomy from Somalia in 1991 following a civil war.
