The intersections of state sovereignty, foreign intervention, and international law present some of the most critical challenges to the modern global order. From the Horn of Africa to the Middle East, the perceived inconsistency in enforcing international law has led to widespread debates about geopolitical double standards, regional stability, and the fracturing of state unity.
A central critique of the current rules-based international order is the selective application of international law. Critics frequently argue that powerful nations and their allies bypass global legal frameworks with impunity, while weaker or strategically vulnerable nations are subjected to strict enforcement, sanctions, or intervention.

A- The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and Western Policy:
The ongoing conflict in Gaza and the West Bank serves as a primary focal point for accusations of Western bias. Despite numerous United Nations resolutions and rulings from bodies like the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding settlements and territorial occupation, Western powers, most notably the United States, continue to provide substantial military, financial, and diplomatic backing to Israel.

B- This relationship is often viewed through two distinct lenses:
☆The Strategic/Lobbyist View: Analysts argue that Israel operates as a vital geopolitical anchor for Western interests in the Middle East. Additionally, highly organized domestic political lobbies within Western nations exert significant influence over foreign policy decisions, creating a framework where Western alignment remains steadfast regardless of shifting global public opinion or international legal consensus.
☆The Systemic Critique: From the perspective of the Global South, this unconditional support reveals a hierarchy in the international system, where the sovereignty and human rights of certain populations are subordinated to the strategic priorities of dominant global powers.

C- The Response of the Arab and Muslim World:
The perceived inaction or compliance of various Arab and Muslim-majority states during crises in Palestine or the Horn of Africa is a source of deep frustration for many. This dynamic is largely driven by complex geopolitical realities:
☆State Survival and Alliances: Many regional regimes prioritize regime security, economic aid, and military alliances with the West over pan-Islamic or pan-Arab solidarity.
☆The Abraham Accords: Recent years have seen a shift toward normalization between several Arab nations and Israel, driven by shared security concerns (such as countering Iranian influence) and economic integration, often sidelining the broader Palestinian cause.

D- The Threat to Somali Sovereignty: Internal and External Dynamics.
Somalia’s political landscape remains highly fragile, deeply affected by the tension between centralized governance (“Somalinimo”, the concept of Somali unity and shared identity) and regional autonomy.

E- Regional Federalism vs. Foreign Exploitation:
The federal system in Somalia has frequently led to intense friction between the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and Federal Member States (FMS) like Puntland and Jubbaland.
☆Internal Political Rifts: Disputes over constitutional amendments, resource sharing, and election models have caused regional leaders to act independently of Mogadishu. Critics argue that when regional leaders engage in independent foreign diplomacy or sign unilateral agreements, they act as agents of division, severely undermining the country’s collective sovereignty.
☆External Interference: External actors, including neighboring African states and Middle Eastern powers, have historically capitalized on these internal rifts. By forging direct ties with regional administrations, foreign entities protect their own maritime, security, or commercial interests, effectively weakening the central state’s ability to present a unified front.

F- The Comparison to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC):
The situation in the DRC mirrors these anxieties regarding sovereignty. In eastern Congo, the proliferation of armed rebel groups and tribal militias, often backed by neighboring countries, has devastated the region. Critics argue that Western interventions often focus on short-term counter-terrorism or peacekeeping initiatives that utilize localized forces, rather than committing fully to building a robust, transparent, and centralized National Army. This approach can inadvertently legitimize armed factions and prolong conflict, stalling the realization of a strong, unified state.

G- The Slippery Slope of Selective Secessionism:
The argument that the fracturing of states like Somalia could trigger a global domino effect highlights a fundamental tension in international relations: the balance between the right to self-determination and the principle of territorial integrity.
If the international community sanctions the fragmentation of sovereign states based on regional or ethnic lines, it sets a dangerous precedent. Movements across the globe, from the Ogaden, Oromia, and Tigray regions in Ethiopia, to Kurdistan in the Middle East, the Sahrawi in Western Sahara, and even European territories like Scotland, Wales, or Corsica, could cite these precedents to demand immediate independence.
☆The Geopolitical Risk:Unregulated or geopolitically motivated secession risks plunging multiple regions into protracted civil conflicts, redrawing borders through violence rather than legal consensus, and destabilizing the fragile peace of the post-WWII global order.

Conclusion: The Urgent Need for a Fair Global Order
The erosion of international law threatens to transition the world from a system governed by rules to one governed entirely by raw power, a state of geopolitics where “might makes right.” The silence or complicity of global leaders in the face of sovereignty violations and humanitarian crises risks undermining the credibility of the United Nations and international legal frameworks entirely.
To prevent further global fragmentation and conflict, international law must be applied universally, without geopolitical exceptions. Preserving the territorial integrity of nations like Somalia, while holding powerful states accountable to the same standards as the rest of the world, is not just a legal necessity, it is vital for the long-term survival and stability of global civilization.
By: BURAALE XINIIN