Saudi Arabia rejects Israeli intervention in Somalia at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation meeting
In a decisive diplomatic move reflecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's commitment to the issues of the Islamic world and the stability of the region, Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji participated, on behalf of His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, in the extraordinary meeting of the foreign ministers of the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The meeting, held today at the OIC headquarters in Jeddah, was dedicated to discussing the alarming developments and the current situation in the Federal Republic of Somalia.
During his address to the attendees, the Deputy Foreign Minister reiterated the Kingdom’s firm and unwavering support for Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity. He expressed the Kingdom’s categorical rejection of the declaration of “mutual recognition” between the Israeli occupation authorities and the breakaway region of “Somaliland.” The Kingdom affirmed that this action represents a perpetuation of unilateral policies aimed at fragmenting states, a blatant violation of international law, the Charter of the United Nations, and the Charter of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which stipulates respect for the sovereignty of member states.
Background of the conflict and the importance of the Saudi position
This meeting comes at a highly sensitive time for the Horn of Africa, as some parties seek to exploit the internal situation in Somalia to bolster their influence. The Somaliland issue dates back to the region's unilateral declaration of independence in 1991, which has not received international recognition. Israel's recent moves toward the region are interpreted as an attempt to establish a foothold in a strategic area overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea, a move viewed with suspicion and rejection by Arab and Islamic countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, due to its potentially serious security implications.
Implications of recognizing parallel entities
In its statement, the Kingdom affirmed its complete rejection of any attempts to impose parallel entities that undermine the unity of Somalia, stressing that supporting legitimate Somali institutions is the only way to guarantee stability. The Kingdom warned that leniency towards such separatist moves could open the door to political and legal chaos that threatens the stability of other countries in the region, thus necessitating a firm, collective Islamic stance.
Al-Khuraiji called on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and its member states to take coordinated action in international forums to prevent the creation of dangerous precedents that threaten the unity of states, and to hold the Israeli entity fully responsible for any political or security repercussions that may result from this hostile behavior that affects Arab and Islamic national security.
The centrality of the Palestinian issue
In concluding his remarks, the central issue remained prominent, with the Deputy Foreign Minister reiterating the Kingdom's emphasis on the centrality of the Palestinian cause. The Kingdom linked Israeli violations on various fronts, reaffirming its support for all efforts aimed at achieving a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their legitimate rights to self-determination and establish their independent state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, considering this the cornerstone of stability in the Middle East.
