Turkey said on Friday that Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland’s independence was an unlawful act meant to create instability and an explicit intervention in Somalia’s internal affairs.
In a statement Foreign Ministry spokesperson Öncü Keçeli said Israel’s announcement was “yet another example” of actions by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government that seek to create instability “at both the regional and global levels.”
Keçeli said Israel’s move reflected “expansionist policies” and an effort to prevent recognition of the State of Palestine.
He said decisions about the future of the Federal Republic of Somalia and the Somaliland region “must be taken” in a way that reflects the will of all Somalis.
Turkey supports Somalia’s territorial integrity and will continue to stand by the Somali people, Keçeli asserted.
Israel said on Friday it recognized Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, a first for a territory that declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not been recognized by the United Nations.
The move triggered condemnations from several regional actors.
Egypt’s foreign ministry said its top diplomat spoke by phone with counterparts from Somalia, Turkey and Djibouti and that the ministers rejected Israel’s recognition and reaffirmed support for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council and the Saudi-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation also rejected Israel’s move in separate statements.