Six months after being recognised by Israel, Somaliland has opened an embassy in Jerusalem’s western quarters, amid protestations from Somalia and the Palestinian Authority, APA can report on Wednesday.
The embassy’s opening on Monday was made to coincide with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi’s official visit to Israel.
Abdullah’s meeting with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu focused on strengthening diplomatic ties which began with the formal recognition of the territory as an independent nation last December to widespread international indignation.
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and much of the Muslim world had condemned Israel for recognising the territory.
Somalia which views the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as a secessonist state of the Somali federation, has condemned the latest move, reiteraing that this was in sharp violation of its territorial integrity.
Mogadishu also accused Israel of undermining its territorial sovereignty.
Meanwhile the Palestinian Authority’s foreign ministry has also condemned opening a ”so-called Somaliland embassy in Jerusalem, which it described as territory unlawfully occupied by Israel.
Somaliland’s choice of Jerusalem for an embassy instead of Tel Aviv, where embassies are located has been seen as particularly controversial.
PM Netanyahu however praised the move as a serious statement of diplomatic rapproachment from Somaliland, a small enclave of 6.2 million people with its own currency, army and regular democratic elections.
WN/as/APA