The announcement sparked outrage in several Muslim countries. Israel announced last Wednesday the appointment of a diplomatic representative for Somaliland.
Last December, Israel became the first UN member state to recognize the fledgling nation. Since then, the two countries have strengthened their cooperation, but the announcement of the arrival of an Israeli ambassador has provoked strong reactions.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation - which includes Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Somalia, Lebanon and Algeria - strongly condemned this announcement which they consider a violation of the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Somalia.
The OIC, which comprises 57 member states, also stressed the importance of respecting international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.
As a reminder, Somaliland has not obtained official recognition since it declared its independence in 1991. This has never been accepted by Somalia either, which considers that Somaliland is still part of its territory.
