African Union condemned Israel’s move to appoint Somaliland envoy

The African Union condemned Israel’s appointment of a diplomatic envoy to Somaliland, warning that any move toward recognizing Somaliland would undermine Somalia’s sovereignty and risk destabilizing the Horn of Africa.

The African Union Commission said it “expresses deep concern and strongly condemns” the reported decision, reiterating that the bloc does not recognize Somaliland as an independent state.

“The Commission reaffirms the African Union’s unwavering respect for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Somalia, in accordance with the Constitutive Act of the African Union and international law,” it said, adding that “any unilateral recognition of Somaliland is null and void”

This statement follows an earlier one released by the AU after Israel announced its recognition of Somaliland. Soon after the announcement, the bloc rejected any move to recognize Somaliland as an “independent state” and reaffirmed its support for the unity and sovereignty of Somalia. The chairperson of the African Union Commission said that the AU “firmly rejects any initiative or action aimed at recognizing Somaliland as an independent entity”.

It also follows a recent statement from a coalition of foreign ministers from across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, who denounced Israel’s decision to appoint a diplomatic representative to Somaliland, arguing that the move infringes on Somalia’s sovereignty and risks destabilizing the region. In a joint declaration, countries such as Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Türkiye, Indonesia, and Somalia rejected what they described as unilateral actions that weaken national unity. They stressed that Somalia’s federal government remains the only legitimate authority representing the Somali people and warned that such steps could create harmful precedents, particularly in the already fragile Horn of Africa.

In response, the Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs released an official statement addressing the collective statement from the Muslim majority countries. While the ministry did not explicitly mention its relationship with Israel or comment directly on the appointment, it emphasized Somaliland’s claim to sovereignty. The statement underlined what the Somaliland administration described as a “fact-based and pragmatic approach that reflects legal realities.” However, the statement from the AU clearly signals the bloc’s strong rejection of Israel’s decision.