Nigeria, Dec. 28 -- Nigeria, Jordan, Algeria and more than 20 other countries have rejected Israel's decision to recognise Somaliland as an independent state, warning that the move violates international law and threatens peace and security in the Horn of Africa.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that Israel on Friday became the first country to formally recognise Somaliland, a self-declared republic that broke away from Somalia in 1991 following a civil war, but has never been recognised by any United Nations member state.

Nigeria issued a separate statement denouncing Israel's decision. It also signed the joint statement by over 20 countries.

In its statement on Saturday, Nigeria said it "unequivocally" supports the sovereignty, unity and territ...