Israel Recognizes Somalia’s Breakaway Region of Somaliland as Independent State
Israel recognized Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent sovereign state on Friday, in a move that sparked a wave of condemnations.
“I announced today the official recognition of the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.Netanyahu, along with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi “signed a joint and mutual declaration”, the statement said.“This declaration is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, signed at the initiative of President Trump,” he added.The Abraham Accords are agreements signed in 2020 between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco to normalize their relations.According to the statement, Netanyahu invited the Somaliland president for an official visit to the Israeli-occupied territories.Somalia on Friday strongly rejected what it described as an unlawful step by Israel to recognize Somaliland as an independent state, calling the move a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.In a press release, the Office of the Prime Minister reaffirmed the government’s “absolute and non-negotiable commitment to its sovereignty, national unity, and territorial integrity,” citing Somalia’s Provisional Constitution, the UN Charter, and the African Union’s Constitutive Act as its legal foundation.
“The Federal Government of Somalia categorically and unequivocally rejects the deliberate attack to its sovereignty and the unlawful step by Israel purporting to recognize the Northern region of Somalia,” the statement said.It emphasized that the “Somaliland Region is an integral, inseparable, and inalienable part of the sovereign territory” of Somalia.“No external actor has the authority or standing to alter its unity or territorial configuration,” it added, warning that “any declaration, recognition, or arrangement” challenging this status is “null, void, and without any legal or political effect under international law.”The government also reiterated its support for Palestinian rights, saying Somalia “firmly rejects occupation, forced displacement, demographic engineering, and settlement expansion.”“Somalia will never accept making the Palestinian people stateless,” the statement said.It also warned against the establishment of foreign military bases that could drag the country into “proxy conflicts or import regional and international hostilities.”The statement said actions like Tel Aviv’s recognition risk “undermining regional peace and stability” and “exacerbating political and security tensions” in the Horn of Africa, Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.It warned such moves could “create enabling conditions for terrorist groups to exploit political instability”.
The Somali government urged the international community to “act responsibly” and respect international law and the principles of non-interference.It also called on Somali citizens to remain “united, vigilant, and resolute” in defending the nation’s sovereignty and borders.The government affirmed it would pursue “all necessary diplomatic, political, and legal measures” to defend its internationally recognized borders.The African Union (AU) also rejected any move to recognize Somaliland as an independent state, reaffirming its firm commitment to Somalia’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.The bloc released a statement saying the Chairman of the AU Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf “unequivocally reaffirms” its stance for “respect for the intangibility of borders inherited at independence.”It said Youssouf “firmly rejects any initiative or action aimed at recognizing Somaliland as an independent entity, recalling that Somaliland remains an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia.”“Any attempt to undermine the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Somalia runs counter to the fundamental principles of the African Union and risks setting a dangerous precedent with far-reaching implications for peace and stability across the continent,” it added.
The statement highlighted the AU’s “unwavering commitment to the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Somalia, as well as its full support for the efforts of the Somali authorities to consolidate peace, strengthen State institutions, and advance inclusive governance.”In a statement, Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit rejected the Israeli move, calling it “a clear violation of international law and a flagrant infringement of the principle of the unity and sovereignty of states”.“Any attempt to impose unilateral recognitions constitutes an unacceptable interference in Somalia’s internal affairs and sets a dangerous precedent that threatens regional and international security and stability,” he warned.The Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) also rejected Israel’s recognition of the independence of Somaliland, calling it “a grave violation of the principles of international law and a blatant infringement” of Somalia’s sovereignty.“This recognition represents a dangerous precedent that will undermine the foundations of stability in the Horn of Africa region and open the door to further tensions and conflicts, contradicting regional and international efforts aimed at strengthening international peace and security in the region,” PGCC Secretary General Jasem Albudaiwi said in a statement.
He reiterated the support of the PGCC nations for Somalia “in all matters that would bolster its security, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, thereby ensuring a dignified life for its brotherly people”.Somaliland, which has lacked official recognition since declaring independence from Somalia in 1991, operates as a de facto independent administrative, political, and security entity, with the central government unable to assert control over the region, and its leadership unable to secure international recognition of independence.The Somali government refuses to recognize Somaliland as an independent state, considers it an integral part of its territory, and views any direct deals or engagement with it as a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and unity.#Israel#Somaliland#Somalia#AU#Africa#PGCC
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