• 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.

WEST PALM BEACH: US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States was “ready to help” as anti-government protests in Iran continued and authorities in Tehran signalled a tougher crackdown on demonstrators.

“Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!” Trump wrote in a social media post, without giving further details.

His comments came as Iran’s leadership warned it could intensify action against the largest wave of protests in years, with the Revolutionary Guards blaming unrest on “terrorists” and vowing to protect the ruling system.

After nightfall on Saturday, new videos posted online purported to show fresh protests in a number of neighbourhoods in the capital Tehran and several cities, including Rasht in the north, Tabriz in the north-west and Shiraz and Kerman in the south. Reuters could not immediately verify the latest videos.

The exiled son of Iran’s last shah, who has emerged as a prominent voice in the fragmented opposition, made his strongest call yet for the protests to broaden into a revolt to topple the clerical rulers.

State media said a municipal building was set on fire in Karaj, west of Tehran, and blamed “rioters”. State TV broadcast footage of funerals of members of the security forces it said were killed in protests in the cities of Shiraz, Qom and Hamedan.

Footage posted on Friday on social media showed large crowds gathered in Tehran and fires lit in the street. In one video verified by Reuters showing a night-time protest in Tehran’s Saadatabad district, a man is heard saying the crowd had taken over the area.

Protests have spread across Iran since December 28, beginning in response to soaring inflation, and quickly turning political with protesters demanding an end to the incumbent government. Authorities accuse the US and Israel of fomenting unrest.

A senior US intelligence official described the situation as an “endurance game”. The opposition was trying to keep up pressure until key government figures either flee or switch sides, while the authorities were trying to sow enough fear to clear the streets without giving the United States justification to intervene, the official said.

Iranian rights group HRANA says at least 50 protesters and 15 security personnel have been killed, and some 2,300 arrested.

Army says ‘terrorist groups’ seek to undermine security

The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported the arrest of 100 “armed rioters” in the town of Baharestan near Tehran.

In a statement broadcast by state TV, the IRGC – an elite force which has suppressed previous bouts of unrest – accused “terrorists” of targeting military and law enforcement bases over the past two nights. It said several citizens and security personnel had been killed and public and private property set on fire.

Safeguarding the achievements of the Islamic revolution and maintaining security was a “red line”, it added.

The regular military also issued a statement saying it would “protect and safeguard national interests, the country’s strategic infrastructure, and public property”.

Pahlavi says goal is to prepare to ‘seize city centres’

In a video posted on X, US-based Reza Pahlavi, 65, whose father was toppled as Iran’s shah in the 1979 revolution, said the Islamic Republic would be brought “to its knees”. He called for people to seize the centres of their towns, and said he was preparing to return soon to Iran.

“Our goal is no longer merely to come into the streets; the goal is to prepare to seize city centres and hold them,” he said.

A doctor in north-western Iran said that since Friday, large numbers of injured protesters had been brought to hospitals. Some were badly beaten, suffering head injuries and broken legs and arms, as well as deep cuts.

At least 20 people in one hospital had been shot with live ammunition, five of whom later died.

Trump said on Thursday he was not inclined to meet Pahlavi, a sign that he was waiting to see how the crisis plays out before backing an opposition leader.

Iran’s rulers have weathered repeated bouts of unrest, including student protests in 1999, over a disputed election in 2009, against economic hardships in 2019, and in 2022 over the death in custody of a woman accused of violating dress codes.

Trump, who joined Israel to strike Iran’s nuclear sites last summer, has included Iran in lists of places in which he could intervene since sending forces to seize the president of Venezuela a week ago. On Friday, in a warning to Iran’s leaders, he said: “You better not start shooting because we’ll start shooting too.”

On Friday, Khamenei accused protesters of acting on behalf of Trump, saying rioters were attacking public properties and warning that Tehran would not tolerate people acting as “mercenaries for foreigners”.

• Parties unite against US takeover rhetoric.
• Trump’s threats spark concern across Europe.
• Independence debate intensifies amid geopolitical pressure.

Greenland’s political parties said they did not want to be under Washington as US President Donald Trump again suggested using force to seize the mineral-rich Danish autonomous territory, raising concern worldwide.

The statement late Friday came after Trump repeated that Washington was “going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not”.

European capitals have been scrambling to come up with a coordinated response after the White House said this week that Trump wanted to buy Greenland and refused to rule out military action.

“We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danish, we want to be Greenlanders,” the leaders of five parties in Greenland’s parliament said in a joint statement.

“The future of Greenland must be decided by Greenlanders.”

“No other country can meddle in this. We must decide our country’s future ourselves — without pressure to make a hasty decision, without procrastination, and without interference from other countries,” they underscored.

Julius Nielsen, a 48-year-old fisherman in the capital Nuuk, told AFP: “American? No! We were a colony for so many years. We´re not ready to be a colony again, to be colonised”.

A Danish colony until 1953, Greenland gained home rule 26 years later and is contemplating eventually loosening its ties with Denmark.

Many Greenlanders remain cautious about making this a reality.

“I really like the idea of us being independent, but I think we should wait. Not for now. Not today,” Pitsi Mari, who works in telecoms, told AFP.

“I feel like the United States’ interference disrupts all relationships and trust” between Denmark and Greenland, said Inaluk Pedersen, a 21-year-old shop assistant.

The coalition currently in power is not in favour of a hasty independence. The only opposition party, Naleraq, which won 24.5% of the vote in the 2025 legislative elections, wants to cut ties as quickly as possible but it is also a signatory of the joint declaration.

“It’s time for us to start preparing for the independence we have fought for over so many years,” said MP Juno Berthelsen in a Facebook post.

According to a poll published on Saturday by Danish agency Ritzau, more than 38% of Danes think the United States will launch an invasion of Greenland under the Trump administration.

Vast natural resources

Denmark and other European allies have voiced shock at Trump’s threats on Greenland, a strategic island between North America and the Arctic where the United States has had a military base since World War II.

Trump says controlling the island is crucial for US national security given the rising military activity of Russia and China in the Arctic.

“We’re not going to have Russia or China occupy Greenland. That’s what they’re going to do if we don’t. So we’re going to be doing something with Greenland, either the nice way or the more difficult way,” the US president said Friday.

Both Russia and China have increased military activity in the region in recent years, but neither has laid any claim to the vast icy island.

Greenland has also attracted international attention in recent years for its vast natural resources, including rare earth minerals and estimates that it could possess huge oil and gas reserves.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that an invasion of Greenland would end “everything”, meaning the transatlantic NATO defence pact and the post-World War II security structure.

Flurry of diplomacy

“I’m a fan of Denmark, too, I have to tell you. And you know, they’ve been very nice to me,” Trump said.

“But you know, the fact that they had a boat land there 500 years ago doesn´t mean that they own the land.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is due to meet next week with Denmark´s foreign minister and representatives from Greenland.

A flurry of diplomacy is under way as Europeans try to head off a crisis while at the same time avoiding the wrath of Trump, who is nearing the end of his first year back in power.

Trump had offered to buy Greenland in 2019 during his first presidential term but was rebuffed.

The head of NATO´s forces in Europe, US General Alexus Grynkewich, said Friday the military alliance was far from being in “a crisis”, following Trump´s threats to bring Greenland under US control.