Twelve countries, including Pakistan, on Saturday expressed “their strongest condemnation” at Israel’s announcement of appointing a diplomatic representative to Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland, according to a joint statement shared by the Foreign Office (FO).

The statement was issued by the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Bangladesh, Algeria, Palestine, Türkiye, Indonesia, Pakistan and Kuwait.

Israel appointed on Wednesday its first ambassador to Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland. Michael Lotem was appointed as a non-resident ambassador to Somaliland, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The statement issued on Saturday by the FO said that Israel’s action was “considered a flagrant violation of the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia”.

According to the statement, the ministers reaffirmed their “unequivocal rejection of all unilateral measures that undermine the unity of states or infringe upon their sovereignty”.

“They underscore their firm and unwavering support for the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Somalia, as well as for its legitimate state institutions, being the sole representative of the will of the Somali people,” it said.

The ministers emphasised that “such actions constitute a blatant violation of the principles of international law, the United Nation’s Charter, and the Constitutive Act of the African Union”.

The statement also said that the move “sets a dangerous precedent that risks undermining stability in the Horn of Africa, which reflects negatively on regional peace and security as a whole”.

Earlier this week, the General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) had also condemned Israel’s move. The organisation had reaffirmed its full support for Somalia and its internationally recognized government, stressing its commitment to the country’s unity and legitimate institutions.

In December, Israel became the first country to formally recognise the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state.

The US had later defended Israel’s decision at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), as several countries, including Pakistan, questioned whether the move could be linked to proposals to forcibly relocate Palestinians from Gaza or to establish military bases.

Additional input from Anadolu Agency