African regional organisations on Saturday rejected Israel’s decision to recognise Somaliland, reaffirming Somalia’s sovereignty and warning that the move could set a destabilising precedent across the continent.
Israel announced the recognition a day earlier, becoming the first country in more than 30 years to formally acknowledge Somaliland.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 following the collapse of the central government and years of civil war. Despite establishing its own governing institutions, it has never gained international recognition.
African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf warned that undermining Somalia’s unity would threaten peace and stability across Africa. He said the commission firmly rejects any initiative recognising Somaliland, stressing that it remains an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
Somalia’s federal government also condemned Israel’s move as unlawful, reiterating its claim over the northern region as sovereign territory.
Israeli officials offered no explanation for the timing of the decision and did not clarify whether political or strategic concessions were involved.
Earlier this year, US and Israeli officials said Israel had discussed resettling Palestinians from Gaza in Somaliland, a proposal that was later dropped.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said a joint declaration was signed with Somaliland’s president under the framework of the Abraham Accords, launched in 2020 to normalise Israel’s relations with several Arab and Muslim-majority countries.
Egypt’s foreign ministry rejected the recognition, voicing full support for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The East African regional bloc IGAD said Somalia’s sovereignty is protected under international law and binding regional agreements, warning that unilateral recognition violates the UN Charter and the African Union’s founding principles.