The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Oncu Keceli, said that Israel’s declaration on the recognition of the independence of the Somaliland region constitutes a new example of the illegal actions of the Tel Aviv administration, reports Anadolu.

“Israel’s declaration on the recognition of the independence of the Somaliland region is a new example of the illegal actions of the (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu’s government, which aim to create regional destabilization and global”, said Keceli in a reaction on the American social platform X.

He stressed that while Israel is continuing its expansionist policies and making every effort to prevent the recognition of the State of Palestine, this step constitutes “open interference in the internal affairs of Somalia”.

He added that decisions related to the future of the Federal Republic of Somalia and the Somaliland region must be made in a way that reflects the will of all Somalis, recalling that Turkey attaches importance to peace and security in the Horn of Africa.

The Turkish MFA spokesman also stressed that Ankara “firmly supports the territorial integrity of Somalia” and that Turkey will continue to stand by the Somali people.

Somaliland, which has been without official recognition since Somalia declared independence in 1991, functions as a de facto independent administrative, political and security entity, with the central government that fails to exercise control over the region and with its leadership that has not been able to secure international recognition of independence.

The Somali government refuses to recognize Somaliland as an independent state, considers it an integral part of its territory and sees any direct agreement or engagement with it as a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and unity.

Source: prizrenpost