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Somalia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Abukar Dahir Osman, said Israel's idea of recognizing Somaliland is "purely destructive" and aims to divert the world's attention from the atrocities in Gaza and the West Bank.
"This (Somaliland) idea is purely destructive; it aims to eliminate the Palestinians in Gaza and also to divert the world's attention from the atrocities in Gaza and the West Bank," Osman said at a press conference to announce the monthly program as Somalia assumes the U.N. Security Council presidency.
Osman described Israel's accusation that Somalia is committing "genocide" in the country's northwest as "shocking."
"We believe they are doing this to distract attention from the killing of innocent people, the displacement, and the deliberate starvation of civilians in Palestinian territories by Israeli occupation forces," Osman said.
He emphasized that none of the conflicts in Somalia's history can be characterized as "genocide."
Osman underlined that Somalia would never accept Israel's goals of deporting 1.5 million Palestinians from Gaza to Somaliland.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud recently told Turkish national broadcaster TRT World that his country does not want Israel to establish a presence in Somaliland.
"We have never attacked Israel. We have never created a problem for Israel. We don't want Israel to come to us and bring their problem to us," Mohamud said.
He described the move as a "very sad situation," calling for the respect of international law.
"It's very sad that it has now been transferred to Somalia," Mohamud lamented.
Mohamud warned that Israel's recognition of Somaliland risks bringing its conflicts to a "very volatile region."
The Somali leader said the issue is critical given Israel's recent actions in the Middle East, not only in Palestine but also in Syria and Lebanon, raising concerns about its involvement in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Horn of Africa.
"If Israel makes a proxy territory to attack the interests of other people, then those people will also attack back in Somaliland and Somalia, which is not going to be a very good experience," Mohamud warned.
He said establishing a military base in Somaliland and forcibly relocating Palestinians would escalate the conflict, a move the Somali government and people have categorically rejected.
Mohamud earlier told Al Jazeera that Somaliland has agreed to resettle Palestinians, host an Israeli military base, and join the Abraham Accords in return for recognition by Israel, citing intelligence reports.
Mohamud said Somalia retains the backing of the international community despite Israel's recognition of Somaliland.
He said Mogadishu engaged the international community, including the UN, African Union, Intergovernmental Authority on Development, East African Community, Arab League, and Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which collectively stood with Somalia and publicly affirmed their support for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Somalia's northern regions have long faced secessionist and separatist challenges, but the government has always sought to resolve differences peacefully, Mohamud said.
"The Somali government has never tried to force or to fight, or even to use diplomatic muscle against these people," he added.
Osman said Somalia is honored to assume the UN Security Council presidency for the first time in 54 years, pledging to work with the highest diplomatic standards and multilateral cooperation.
He said the Security Council program will include briefings and consultations on the Middle East, Syria's chemical weapons, the U.N. Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), Sudan and Haiti.
An open debate on "Promoting and strengthening the rule of law in the maintenance of international peace and security" on Jan. 26 will be the most important event of their presidency, with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud attending, Osman said.
Meetings in the last week of January will also address the situation in occupied Palestinian territories, Yemen, Syria and Lebanon, he added.
Osman said Somalia is always in favor of dialogue within the UN framework, a measured and peaceful approach, and resolution through negotiation.
He expressed concern about recent developments in Yemen and said they would closely follow developments regarding protests that began in Iran.
Israel announced on Dec. 26 that it recognized Somaliland as "an independent and sovereign state."
With this decision announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel became the only country to recognize Somaliland.
Somaliland declared unilateral separation from Somalia in 1991 but has not been recognized as an independent state by the international community to date.
The Somali government emphasized that Somaliland is an integral part of the country and that all international agreements regarding the region are solely under the authority of Mogadishu.
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