JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, May 22, 2026 — The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has strongly condemned reports that Somaliland plans to open what it called a diplomatic office in occupied East Jerusalem, warning the move would violate international law and United Nations resolutions.
In a statement, the OIC General Secretariat said such a step would run counter to international consensus, the UN Charter, and resolutions related to the status of Jerusalem.
The organisation said the reported move formed part of efforts by Israel to gain illegitimate political recognition through entities it described as “unrecognised,” including Somaliland.
It reiterated that Israel has no legal sovereignty over East Jerusalem, which it said remains part of the occupied Palestinian territory and is widely recognised as the capital of a future Palestinian state.
Any attempt to alter the legal, political or demographic status of Jerusalem, the OIC said, constitutes a clear violation of international law.
The OIC also reaffirmed its support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and stability of Somalia, amid wider regional sensitivities surrounding recognition and statehood claims in the Horn of Africa.
The statement called on member states and the wider international community to reject any unilateral or illegal actions that could be seen as legitimising separatist entities or undermining internationally recognised borders.
