RIYADH – Türkiye and Saudi Arabia reaffirmed strong support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, rejecting what they described as separatist moves and parallel structures that threaten the unity of the Horn of Africa nation, as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh during his one-day official visit.
According to a statement from Türkiye’s Communications Directorate on Wednesday, the two leaders during their meeting on Tuesday in Riyadh, stressed their “unwavering support” for the unity of the Federal Republic of Somalia and for preserving the country’s stability, development and the welfare of its people.
They also repudiated the declaration of mutual recognition between Israeli authorities and the breakaway Somaliland region, which they said reinforces unilateral separatist actions, violates international law and escalates regional tensions.
In late December last year, Israel announced that it had recognised Somaliland as an independent state.
Somaliland has functioned as a de facto autonomous region since declaring independence from Somalia in 1991. It has failed to gain formal international recognition, while Somalia’s federal government reiterates that the region is an integral part of its territory.
TRT World
