China opposes any attempt to split territories in Somalia, the foreign ministry in Beijing said on Monday, three days after Israel became the first country to formally recognize the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as an independent state.
"No country should encourage or support other countries' internal separatist forces for its own selfish interests," ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters at a regular press conference.
He urged authorities in Somaliland to stop "separatist activities and collusion with external forces."
Somaliland has enjoyed effective autonomy - and relative peace and stability - since 1991 when Somalia descended into civil war, but the breakaway region has failed to receive recognition from any other country.
Israel said on Friday it would seek immediate cooperation with Somaliland in agriculture, health, technology and the economy .
Arab world, African nations reject Israeli recognition of Somaliland
Somalia condemned the move as an "unlawful step" and a "deliberate attack" on its sovereignty. South Africa's foreign affairs ministry on Monday urged the international community to "reject this external interference and support a united, stable Somalia."
On Sunday, leader of Yemen's Houthi rebels Sayyed Abdulmalik al-Houthi warned that the Houthis will “consider any Israeli presence in Somaliland as a military target. We emphasize our firm stand with the brotherly Somali people against Israel, and we will take all possible support measures to assist them."
Egypt said Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held phone calls on Friday with his counterparts from Somalia, Turkey and Djibouti to discuss what they described as dangerous developments in the Horn of Africa following Israel's announcement.
The ministers condemned Israel's recognition of Somaliland, reaffirmed their full support for Somalia's unity and territorial integrity, and warned that recognizing breakaway regions posed a threat to international peace and security, Egypt's foreign ministry said.
The African Union also rejected any recognition of Somaliland, reaffirming its "unwavering commitment" to Somalia's unity and territorial integrity and warning that such moves risked undermining peace and stability across the continent, the AU Commission chair said.
The Nigerian government in a statement on X said it "strongly condemns" any actions that seek to undermine Somalia's constitutional order and urged other nations to "desist" from recognizing any part of Somalia's territory as independent.
Tobias Holcman contributed to this report.