Photo courtesy of Egypt's ministry of foreign affairs.
In a statement, the ministry said Egypt “strongly condemns the illegal and rejected step” represented in the opening of the mission in occupied Jerusalem, adding that it constituted “a direct infringement on the legal and historical status of the occupied city of Jerusalem.”
Egypt reiterated its “complete rejection of any unilateral measures aimed at entrenching an illegal reality in occupied Jerusalem or granting legitimacy to any entities or arrangements that contravene the rules of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.”
The foreign ministry reaffirmed that East Jerusalem “has been occupied Palestinian territory since 1967,” stressing that “any attempts to alter its legal and historical status are null and void and carry no legal effect.”
East Jerusalem is considered occupied Palestinian territory under international law, and many countries and international bodies support its status as the future capital of a Palestinian state.
Several United Nations Security Council resolutions, including UN Security Council Resolution 242, UN Security Council Resolution 252, and UN Security Council Resolution 2334, state that East Jerusalem is occupied Palestinian territory and that measures taken by Israel to alter its status have “no legal validity” and constitute “a flagrant violation under international law.” UN Security Council Resolution 478 also calls on member states to withdraw diplomatic missions from the city.
Egypt also underscored its “full support for the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia,” while rejecting “any unilateral measures that undermine the unity or sovereignty of Somali territory.”
The statement comes amid escalating diplomatic tensions in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region following Israel’s recognition of the so-called Somaliland in late 2025 and subsequent efforts to deepen political and security ties with the breakaway region.
Earlier this year, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar visited Somaliland and held talks with senior officials in Hargeisa on expanding cooperation in trade, maritime security, technology, and defence, a move Somalia condemned as a violation of its sovereignty.
Cairo also rejected the visit, warning that any steps that undermine Somalia’s territorial integrity threaten regional stability and security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea corridor.
Somaliland declared secession from Somalia in 1991 following the collapse of Somalia’s central government. Still, the United Nations, the African Union, and the vast majority of the international community do not recognize it.
Mogadishu continues to regard Somaliland as an integral part of Somali territory and has repeatedly opposed foreign diplomatic engagement with the region.
The issue has gained broader geopolitical significance over the past two years amid intensifying competition over influence and maritime access in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, one of the world’s most strategic shipping corridors linking Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Egypt has increasingly strengthened ties with Somalia since tensions erupted between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa over a controversial memorandum of understanding signed between Ethiopia and Somaliland in January 2024. The deal would have granted landlocked Ethiopia access to the Red Sea through Somaliland in exchange for possible political recognition, prompting strong objections from Somalia, which described the agreement as a violation of its sovereignty.
Cairo backed Somalia’s position and repeatedly reaffirmed support for the country’s unity and territorial integrity.
Egypt and Somalia have since expanded political, military, and security cooperation, with Cairo expressing concern that instability in the Horn of Africa could directly affect Red Sea security and regional navigation routes.
Egypt has also consistently rejected Israeli measures in occupied Jerusalem and reaffirmed its position that East Jerusalem is occupied Palestinian territory and the capital of a future Palestinian state under international law and relevant UN resolutions.
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