Riyadh – Saudi Arabia’s cabinet, chaired by King Salman bin Abdulaziz, on Tuesday reiterated the kingdom’s firm opposition to any actions that would divide the Federal Republic of Somalia or undermine its sovereignty, a statement said.
The cabinet stressed Saudi Arabia’s full support for Somalia’s unity, territorial integrity and national sovereignty, rejecting the creation of parallel institutions or administrations that would run counter to the existence of the Somali state, according to the statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.
The council also voiced Riyadh’s backing for decisions taken at an emergency meeting of foreign ministers from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), held in Jeddah, which addressed the situation in Somalia.
The remarks come after Israel on December 26 formally recognised Somaliland, a self-declared region in northern Somalia that broke away in 1991.
Israel is the only country to have fully recognised Somaliland as an independent state, a move that has sparked widespread criticism.
Somalia’s federal government and several other countries have strongly condemned Israel’s decision, describing it as a violation of Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Analysts have warned the move could fuel political and security tensions, with potential repercussions for stability in the Horn of Africa and the region’s international relations.
