Djibouti Condemns Colombia’s Recognition of Israeli Sovereignty on Golan
The Republic of Djibouti has issued a strong condemnation of the recent decision by the Colombian government to recognize what it termed “Israeli sovereignty” over the occupied Syrian Golan. In a formal statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on Wednesday, Djibouti underscored that the move stands in direct opposition to the foundational principles of international law, most notably the prohibition of acquiring territory through the use of force.
Djibouti’s diplomatic intervention highlights the international legal consensus regarding the status of the Syrian Golan. The ministry specifically cited United Nations Security Council Resolution 497, adopted in 1981, which explicitly declared that the imposition of Israeli laws, jurisdiction, and administration over the occupied territory is null, void, and without international legal effect. By aligning itself with the principle of non-acquisition of territory by force, Djibouti reaffirmed its position that any unilateral measures intended to alter the legal, geographic, or demographic character of the Golan are illegal and fail to bestow any legitimacy upon such actions.
Furthermore, the statement from the Djiboutian Foreign Ministry expressed deep concern regarding the impact of such diplomatic shifts on broader regional stability. Rather than fostering the conditions necessary for a just and lasting peace, Djibouti warned that these positions serve to institutionalize policies of fait accompli, which inevitably undermine regional security. The ministry reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to international legitimacy, maintaining that the Golan remains an occupied Arab Syrian territory.
This diplomatic rejection by Djibouti follows an official protest lodged by the Syrian Arab Republic earlier the same day. Syria submitted a formal communication to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and the President of the Security Council, expressing its outright condemnation and refusal of Colombia’s shift in policy. Damascus maintains that such actions by foreign governments are a violation of its sovereignty and a disregard for established international resolutions that safeguard the status of the territory under international law.
The international community remains largely divided on the status of the Golan Heights, with the vast majority of nations, including regional bodies and global powers, adhering to the stance that the territory is occupied and that its final status must be determined through comprehensive peace agreements. The swift and vocal response from countries like Djibouti serves to emphasize the continued diplomatic sensitivity of the issue and the persistent adherence of many nations to the UN-mandated legal framework regarding the occupied Syrian Golan.
