Hours after Israel recognised Somaliland as an independent state, Egypt’s foreign minister held telephone discussions with his counterparts from Somalia, Turkey and Djibouti, officials said.

The four countries expressed concern that Israel’s decision could escalate tensions in the Horn of Africa. In a joint statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said the authorities “completely rejected” the recognition and reiterated their support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The statement warned that any unilateral recognition risked destabilising Somalia and could lead to the creation of “parallel entities.” It added that recognising Somaliland as a sovereign state would create an unprecedented situation under international law and the United Nations Charter.

Meanwhile, Israel has indicated plans to rapidly expand ties with Somaliland across agriculture, health, technology and economic sectors.