Egypt slams Israel for recognising Somaliland

CAIRO:

Egypt joined Turkey, Somalia and Djibouti in condemning Israel's recognition of Somaliland as an independent state on Friday, the Egyptian foreign ministry said.

The countries' top diplomats spoke by phone following Israel's announcement, Egypt's foreign ministry said.

"The ministers affirmed their complete rejection and condemnation of Israel's recognition of the Somaliland region, and stressed their full support for the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia," the statement added.

The ministers also rejected "any unilateral actions that would compromise Somali sovereignty or undermine the foundations of stability in the country" and "any attempts to impose parallel entities that conflict with the unity of the Somali state", the statement added.

Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has for decades pushed for international recognition.