The African Union declared on Friday that it rejects any recognition of Somaliland after Israel announced it now views the breakaway region as a sovereign state, triggering swift regional backlash.
In a statement, AU head Mahamoud Ali Youssouf urged all nations to respect existing African borders. He warned that any move undermining Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity could set a dangerous precedent with serious consequences for peace and stability across the continent. The AU reaffirmed that Somaliland remains an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
Somalia reacted with anger after Israel became the first country to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state. Somaliland, which broke away from Somalia in 1991, has long sought international recognition, a top priority for President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi since taking office last year.
Somalia’s foreign ministry condemned Israel’s decision as a deliberate attack on its sovereignty and warned it would destabilize the region. Several other nations also criticized the move.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the recognition aligns with the spirit of the Abraham Accords, the agreements brokered during Donald Trump’s first presidency to normalize relations between Israel and several Arab states. Netanyahu also invited Abdullahi for an official visit.
Abdullahi welcomed the announcement, calling it the start of a strategic partnership and expressing Somaliland’s readiness to join the Abraham Accords. Celebrations erupted in Hargeisa, where crowds waved Somaliland flags in the streets.
Somalia continued to denounce the development, saying such illegitimate actions threaten peace across the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and beyond. Turkiye, a close Somali ally, also condemned Israel’s decision.
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