Politics
OIC terms Israel’s recognition of Somaliland illegal, warns against displacing Palestinians
- OIC meeting held after Israel’s announcement to recognise “Somaliland”.
- Decision sets dangerous precedent under international law: secy general.
- Organisation warns against cooperation in Palestinian displacement schemes.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has strongly condemned and categorically rejected Israel’s decision to recognise the so-called “Somaliland” as an independent state, calling the move a blatant violation of the sovereignty, national unity, territorial integrity, and internationally recognised borders of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
The condemnation was issued during the 22nd Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, held on Saturday at the headquarters of the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah. The emergency meeting was convened to discuss the serious developments in Somalia following Israel’s announcement on December 26, 2025.
Addressing the opening session, OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha said the meeting was taking place at an extremely delicate and sensitive time. He said that Israel’s recognition of the so-called “Somaliland” region constitutes a dangerous precedent, a flagrant violation of international law, and a direct threat to regional security and stability in the Horn of Africa.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar represented Pakistan during the meeting, which also passed two resolutions — one to condemn Israel’s recognition of Somaliland and another against schemes for the displacement of Palestinians from their land.
In its strongly worded resolution, the OIC affirmed its full and unwavering support for the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Somalia and expressed strong solidarity with the Somali government and people.
The organisation reiterated its absolute rejection of any actions or measures that could undermine Somalia’s unity, territorial integrity, or sovereignty over its entire territory.
The OIC stressed that Israel’s action constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, the United Nations Charter, and the fundamental principle of respect for state sovereignty and territorial integrity.
It warned that the move poses a direct threat to peace and security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region, with potentially dangerous implications for regional and international peace.
Reaffirming its long-standing position, the OIC emphasised that the so-called “Somaliland” is an integral and inseparable part of the Federal Republic of Somalia and does not possess any independent international legal status.
The resolution read that any attempt to separate or recognise “Somaliland” represents blatant interference in Somalia’s internal affairs and a direct affront to its unity and sovereignty.
The organisation also strongly condemned what it described as an illegal visit carried out on January 6, 2026, by an Israeli official to Somaliland, asserting that the visit constituted a serious violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Additionally, the OIC categorically rejected any illegal foreign military, security, or intelligence presence on Somali territory, particularly any Israeli presence.
It stressed that attempts to establish military bases, security arrangements, strategic investments, or any foreign presence without the approval of Somalia’s legitimate federal government are an assault on national sovereignty and a “red line that cannot be crossed.”
The OIC called on its member states, as well as international and regional organisations, to refrain from any form of official or quasi-official engagement with “Somaliland” authorities outside the framework of Somalia’s national sovereignty.
In another resolution, the organisation also warned against any cooperation with Israeli schemes to forcibly displace the Palestinian people, stating that such cooperation would amount to complicity in crimes and serious violations of international and humanitarian law.
The OIC categorically rejected any scheme and attempts to displace Palestinians from their land, including in Gaza.
The organisation urged its secretary general to engage the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly, and the UN secretary general to highlight the gravity of Israel’s actions and called on the international community, particularly permanent members of the UNSC, to uphold their legal and moral responsibilities to protect international peace and security in the Horn of Africa.
- Cuba lived on Venezuelan oil, money for years: Trump
- Trump suggests Rubio would become next Cuba leader.
- US intelligence not clear if island nation “ready to fall”.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday suggested Cuba should strike a deal with Washington, warning that the island nation would no longer receive oil or money from Venezuela.
Venezuela is Cuba’s biggest oil supplier, but since the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by US forces, Trump has successfully pressed interim President Delcy Rodriguez to send Venezuelan oil to the United States.
“THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA — ZERO! I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social on Sunday.
“Cuba lived, for many years, on large amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela,” Trump said.
US intelligence has painted a grim picture of Cuba’s economic and political situation, but its assessments offer no clear support for Trump’s prediction that the island is “ready to fall,” Reuters reported on Saturday, citing three people familiar with the confidential assessments.
The CIA’s view is that key sectors of the Cuban economy, such as agriculture and tourism, are severely strained by frequent blackouts, trade sanctions and other problems.
The potential loss of oil imports and other support from Venezuela, for decades a key ally, could make governing more difficult for the administration that has ruled Cuba since Fidel Castro led a revolution in 1959.
For Cuba, the loss of Venezuelan oil is devastating. Between January and November of last year, Venezuela sent an average of 27,000 barrels per day (bpd) to the island, covering roughly 50% of Cuba’s oil deficit, according to shipping data and documents from Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA.
Separately, Trump reposted a social media message suggesting that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, born to Cuban immigrant parents, would become the next leader of Cuba.
Trump republished a Truth Social message from user Cliff Smith, posted on January 8, that read “Marco Rubio will be president of Cuba,” accompanied by a crying laughing emoji.
Trump’s comment on the repost was “Sounds good to me!”
The largely unknown user, whose bio refers to him as a “conservative Californian” has less than 500 followers.
Trump’s repost comes a week after US forces seized Venezuela’s authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro in a nighttime operation in Caracas that killed dozens of Venezuelan and Cuban security forces.
Nordic diplomats rejected US President Donald Trump’s claims of Russian and Chinese vessels operating near Greenland, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.
There have been no signs of Russian or Chinese ships or submarines around Greenland in recent years, the FT said, citing two senior Nordic diplomats with access to Nato intelligence briefings.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The White House and Nato did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.
“It is simply not true that the Chinese and Russians are there. I have seen the intelligence. There are no ships, no submarines,” the FT quoted one senior diplomat as saying.
Another Nordic diplomat said claims that waters around Greenland were “crawling” with Russian and Chinese vessels were unfounded, adding that such activity was on the Russian side of the Arctic.
Trump has repeatedly said Russian and Chinese vessels are operating near Greenland, a claim Denmark disputes. He has not provided evidence to support it.
Trump said on Friday the US must own Greenland, an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark, to prevent Russia or China from occupying the strategically located and mineral-rich territory.
“The image that’s being painted of Russian and Chinese ships right inside the Nuuk fjord and massive Chinese investments being made is not correct,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said earlier this week.
Vessel tracking data from MarineTraffic and LSEG show no Chinese or Russian ship presence near Greenland.
Greenland’s assembly said late on Friday it would bring forward a meeting to discuss its response to US threats to take control of the island.
Trump’s renewed push for Greenland, after US military intervention in Venezuela, worries many of the island’s 57,000 inhabitants, whose widely held goal is to eventually become an independent nation.
- US military, shipping will be legitimate targets: Iranian official
- Israeli PM, Marco Rubio discuss possible US intervention on call.
- Tel Aviv on high alert due to prospects of any action by Washington.
PARIS: Iran on Sunday warned that it would strike US military and shipping targets in the event of a new attack by Washington during an ongoing wave of protests.
“In the event of a military attack by the US, both the occupied territory and centres of the US military and shipping will be our legitimate targets,” said Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who told parliament in comments broadcast by state TV.
Tehran’s warning comes as sources say Israel is on high alert for the possibility of US intervention amid protests in Iran.
The country has faced demonstrations since December 28, 2025, on the issue of soaring inflation, with authorities accusing the US and Israel of fomenting unrest.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene in recent days and warned Iran’s rulers against using force against demonstrators. On Saturday, Trump said the US stands “ready to help”.
The sources, who were present for Israeli security consultations over the weekend, did not elaborate on what Israel’s high-alert footing meant in practice. Israel and Iran fought a 12-day war in June, in which the US joined Israel in launching airstrikes.
In a phone call on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the possibility of US intervention in Iran, according to an Israeli source who was present for the conversation.
A US official confirmed the two men spoke but did not say what topics they discussed.
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