The regional bloc joins other countries in condemning Israel’s move to officially recognize the breakaway region of Somalia as independent.
The Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the African Union (AU) have joined a number of countries in condemning Israel’s formal recognition of Somaliland, a breakaway region of northern Somalia, as an independent state.
Somaliland, in the Horn of Africa, declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has been pushing for international recognition for decades, with President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi making it a top priority since taking office last year.
Recommended stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
Israel announced Friday that it considers Somaliland an “independent and sovereign state,” becoming the first country to make such a declaration.
Following the announcement, Somalia called the decision a “deliberate attack” on its sovereignty that undermines peace in the region.
In a statement on Friday, the AU continental bloc rejected Israel’s move and warned it risked “setting a dangerous precedent with far-reaching implications for peace and stability across the continent.”
AU Commission Chairman Mahmoud Ali Yusuf said the AU Commission “remembers that Somaliland remains an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia and categorically rejects any initiatives or actions aimed at recognizing Somaliland as an independent entity.”
“Dangerous precedent”
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit called Israel’s actions “a clear violation of international law and a gross violation of the principles of national unity and sovereignty.”
“Any attempt to impose unilateral recognition is an unacceptable interference in Somalia’s internal affairs and sets a dangerous precedent that threatens regional and international security and stability,” he warned.
The GCC condemned the development as a “grave violation of the principles of international law and a blatant violation of Somalia’s sovereignty.”
“This recognition sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the foundations of stability in the Horn of Africa, opens the door to further tensions and conflict, and runs counter to regional and international efforts aimed at strengthening international peace and security in the region,” GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budawi said in a statement.
The European Union said it respects Somalia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and called for dialogue between Somalia’s central government and Somaliland.
The foreign ministers of Somalia, Egypt, Turkiye, and Djibouti also condemned Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, saying, “The ministers underlined their full support for the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia, and confirmed their total rejection and condemnation of Israel’s recognition of the Somaliland region.”
Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the statement on Friday following a telephone conversation between top diplomats from the two countries.
Somalia demands reversal of recognition
Qatar, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and China also condemned Israel’s move.
The Palestinian Authority and Hamas also rejected Israeli recognition of Somaliland.
Somalia on Friday called on Israel to withdraw its recognition of Somaliland’s independence, condemning the move as an “act of aggression that will never be tolerated.”
However, Somaliland Prime Minister Abdullahi hailed Israel’s decision as a “historic moment” and said in a post on X that it was the beginning of a “strategic partnership”.
As world leaders weighed in, Somalia’s al-Qaeda-linked militant group al-Shabab vowed on Saturday to fight any attempt by Israel to “claim or use any part of Somaliland.”
“We do not accept it and we will fight it,” the group, which has waged decades of armed insurgency in the region, said in a statement.
US President Donald Trump also commented on the issue.
When asked by the New York Post whether the U.S. government intends to recognize Somaliland as well, President Trump answered “no.”
“Does anyone know what Somaliland actually is?” he added on Friday.
