The African Union on Friday dismissed Israel’s recent recognition of Somaliland as an independent state, warning that such moves threaten continental stability and pledging unwavering backing for Somalia’s territorial unity.
AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf issued a statement rejecting any efforts to grant sovereignty to the breakaway region, which has operated autonomously since 1991 but remains unrecognized by the pan-African body or most nations.
“The Chairperson of the Commission firmly rejects any initiative or action aimed at recognizing Somaliland as an independent entity,” the AU declared.
Youssouf expressed “deep concern” over unfolding events tied to Somaliland, stressing that acknowledging it separately would violate the AU’s foundational principles.
He reiterated that the bloc’s stance draws from its Constitutive Act, which upholds borders established at independence — a tenet first adopted in 1964 by the Organisation of African Unity, the AU’s forerunner, to avert disputes and foster peace.
Youssouf cautioned that undermining Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity might establish a “dangerous precedent” with profound implications for Africa’s security.
He affirmed that Somaliland constitutes an essential component of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and emphasized that the AU stands resolutely behind Mogadishu’s central government in fostering reconciliation, bolstering institutions and advancing inclusive rule.
The rebuke follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s December 22 declaration recognizing Somaliland’s independence, coupled with vows to collaborate on agriculture and other sectors — marking the first such endorsement by any country.
Somaliland, in the Horn of Africa, has sustained its own administration, economy and forces for over three decades, yet lacks UN membership and broad diplomatic acceptance, with the international community largely treating it as part of Somalia.
