Article: https://www.trtworld.com/article/e3b98147788b
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Algeria, Bangladesh, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gambia, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, the Maldives, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia Sudan, Turkey, and Yemen have all joined together to condemn Isarel’s recent visit to Somaliland in which they became the first state to recognize Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state. These condemnations come in the middle of the Israel-Palestine conflict, and are another way for the Muslim community to come together to collectively agree to disagree with Israel. They allege that Israel’s visit harms Somalia’s sovereignty and their territorial integrity, which makes legal sense given Somaliland has been in active conflict with Somalia or an extension of Somalian authorities for the bulk of its existence. The statement has made it clear that the signatory states wish to place importance on international law and a respect thereof; stating that international stability and diplomatic norms are essential for regional security.
Realistically, the statement is as useful as a toilet paper roll without toilet paper and as hollow as a drinking straw with no water because, let’s be truthful, we’re in the Somalian desert. Israel’s visit places them as the first to potentially gain full access to Somaliland’s important ports, which could potentially gain them a staging point to more directly answer Iranian threats in Yemen. Israel’s strategic concerns also extend into the Gulf of Aden itself, and friendly relations with Somaliland would certainly give the Jewish state a better avenue of approach for dealing with terrorist and pirate threats attacking global trade.
Israel, the recipient of the message, is unlikely to do anything because of this condemnation. They don’t particularly have any reason to respond to the decree, as they aren’t being threatened with anything and have an almost-guaranteed backing of the United States. The Muslim states who signed the declaration are also more than likely not going to follow up on their criticisms apart from diplomatic assaults, but those themselves are rarely cause for concern. Though it may sound counterintuitive, it’s unlikely that the condemnation has actually done anything of value. Were I Somalian, I’d prefer direct investments to hollow and hypocritical statements.
Israel’s investment into Somaliland is directly related to their geopolitical strategy. They are currently considering how best to continue building alliances in the region to counter Iran’s axis and, with Somaliland being placed right on the Gulf of Aden, Israel can much more easily become a regional power if they can effectively negotiate a short or long-term military presence in other nations like Somaliland. Though it isn’t a conflict, Israel’s visit to Somaliland represents the start of Israeli diplomatic expansion.
