A3+ condemns Israel's recognition of Somaliland

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- The three African members of the Security Council -- Algeria, Sierra Leone, and Somalia -- along with Guyana, collectively known as A3+, on Monday strongly condemned Israel's recognition of Somaliland as a sovereign state.

"A3+ strongly condemns the flagrant assault by Israel on the unity and the territorial integrity of Somalia by recognizing as an independent entity the northwestern region of Somalia, the so-called Somaliland," said A3+ in a joint statement at an emergency meeting of the Security Council.

Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, "is legally incapable of entering into any agreement or arrangement or recognition with another country," said the statement read by Somali UN ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman on behalf of A3+. "Any such purported arrangements are, therefore, null and void."

Israel's recognition of Somaliland represents a direct violation of the UN Charter, the African Union's fundamental principles, and a breach of the cornerstone of international law, said the statement.

"This act of aggression is aimed at encouraging fragmentation of the territory of Somalia ... and is destabilizing the Horn of Africa, entire Horn of Africa, and the Red Sea region. It should be firmly rejected and condemned unequivocally by all (UN) member states. A3+, therefore, rejects this announcement by Israel and calls for it to be rescinded," said the statement.

A3+ further calls on all UN member states to take a unified and principled stand against this illegal action, it said.

A3+ unequivocally rejects any steps aimed at advancing the forced, involuntary relocation of Palestinians from their homeland to other countries, including any attempt by Israel to relocate the Palestinian population from Gaza to Somaliland, said the statement.

"This action is not only unlawful, but is morally reprehensible. ... A3+ will neither accept nor condone the illegal use of any territory, let alone that of a sovereign state, which is a member of the United Nations."

Neither the future of the Palestinian people nor the territorial sovereignty of Somalia can be used as a bargaining chip, it noted.

Israel's actions not only have set a dangerous precedent but also pose a serious threat to regional and international peace and security, it said.

A3+ calls on the international community to uphold its responsibility under the UN Charter and to reject any act that undermines the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Somalia or the rights of the Palestinian people through manipulative and immoral actions, it added.

The A3+ is a coalition of three elected African members of the Security Council, known as A3, plus an additional like-minded country from Latin America and the Caribbean region. Over the years, they have steadily enhanced their coordination in pursuit of a common African position.