The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) held an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss Israel’s reported recognition of Somaliland, a self-declared independent region of Somalia. The move had drawn widespread condemnation from world leaders over the weekend, and the UNSC session provided a forum for all member states to present their positions.

Somalia spearheaded the debate, denouncing Israel’s action as a “flagrant assault” on its unity and territorial integrity, arguing that Somaliland was “legally incapable of entering into any agreement or arrangement with another country.” A representative stated that the decision was in “direct violation of established international norms and legal principles,” describing it as an act of “aggression.” He also cited remarks by Israeli officials that, in his view, hinted at a forced relocation of Palestinians and the establishment of military bases in the region, rejecting any such aspiration. Somalia’s position was echoed by representatives of several African and Arab countries, as well as by statements from the African Union and the League of Arab States.

Israel and the US defended the move. The US delegate argued that Somaliland has the same right as any other state to conduct diplomatic relations and noted that the recognition of what he described as a “non-existent Palestinian state” had not prompted an emergency UNSC meeting. However, the US refrained from taking a stance on Somaliland’s recognition. Israel itself stated that it has longstanding relations with Somaliland and formerly recognized its independence in 1960, when the territory briefly “emerged as an independent state.” This alludes to five days in 1960 when the State of Somaliland proclaimed independence as the predecessor to today’s 1991 Republic of Somaliland.

Other speakers, including Denmark and other European states, criticized Israel’s decision for setting a “dangerous precedent” that could exacerbate tensions in the Horn of Africa. They emphasized that any resolution of Somaliland’s status should occur in the framework of Somalia’s national order. The United Kingdom’s delegate proposed that Somalia and Somaliland’s political leaders collaborate to curb Al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups in the region who might benefit from internal divisions.

Statehood under international law is assessed by the 1933 Montevideo Convention, which sets out four conditions: a permanent population, a defined territory, an effective government, and the capacity to enter into foreign relations. The convention seeks to balance territorial integrity and sovereignty with the right of peoples to self-determination. Customary international law, however, generally sets a high threshold for unilateral declarations of independence, typically recognizing them only in cases of severe human rights violations perpetrated by the central government.

Somaliland unilaterally declared independence from Somalia in May 1991 amid the collapse of the long-ruling Siad Barre regime and the outbreak of civil war. Although it maintains its own government and currency, Somaliland has long lacked formal international recognition. According to analysts from the Council on Foreign Relations, Somaliland’s claim to independence stems in part from being a “relatively stable democracy” that “is attracting major foreign investors.” By contrast, Somalia, despite having international recognition, “hasn’t been a functioning country in decades.”