Somalia Warns Israeli Move Could Destabilize Key Global Waterway

Somalia's top leadership body has issued a sharp warning. It says Israel's potential recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland is a direct threat to regional security. The National Consultative Council stated the Israeli step threatens the security of the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. It also warned of consequences for the wider Middle East. The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden are among the world's most critical shipping lanes. The statement implies that recognizing Somaliland could increase instability in this already volatile area. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991. No United Nations member state officially recognizes its sovereignty. Any foreign recognition is viewed by Somalia's government as an attack on its territorial integrity.