Addis-Ababa (Somalia Today) — The African Union and United Arab Emirates reaffirmed support for Somalia’s sovereignty on Tuesday, as the AU’s Peace and Security Council called on Israel to revoke its recognition of Somaliland, stressing no external actor can redraw AU member borders.
In a joint statement following talks in Addis Ababa, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and UAE Minister of State Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan backed Somalia’s “sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and stability,” listing it as a top priority for the Horn of Africa.
Both sides linked their partnership to broader AU goals, including Agenda 2063 and the “Silencing the Guns by 2030” initiative, aiming to deepen cooperation on security, trade, and development.
Council condemnation
Hours earlier, the AU Peace and Security Council “strongly condemned” Israel’s unilateral recognition of the “so-called Republic of Somaliland” and demanded “its immediate revocation.”
Citing the AU Constitutive Act and UN Charter, the Council reaffirmed its “unwavering commitment” to Somalia’s unity. It asserted that no actor has legal standing to alter the territory of an AU member state, declaring any such proclamation null and void under international law.
Somalia’s federal government has rejected Somaliland’s statehood claims since the region declared independence in 1991, arguing foreign states cannot conduct official relations with Hargeisa without Mogadishu’s authorisation.
The joint statement followed a high-level meeting that built on 2025 consultations in Abu Dhabi, aimed at strengthening engagement between the Commission and the Gulf state.
Youssouf and Shakhboot discussed Horn of Africa security, noting that regional stability remains tied to the Arabian Gulf and maritime security.
They also framed the talks within a broader integration agenda, citing the African Continental Free Trade Area as a key economic vehicle.
While the joint statement did not name Somaliland, the reaffirmation of Somalia’s sovereignty coincided with the AU security arm formalising opposition to Israel’s move.
Recognition backlash
On December 26, Israel announced it recognised Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent state and would establish diplomatic ties.
This marked the first recognition of Somaliland by a UN member state, sharpening a decades-long regional dispute.
Somaliland declared independence after the 1991 collapse of Somalia’s central government and has since built independent institutions, though it previously lacked broad international recognition.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar visited Hargeisa on Tuesday to meet Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro).
Somaliland’s presidency said Irro welcomed the move as a major step that could unlock investment in energy, mining, and infrastructure.
In a public message, Sa’ar wrote that Israel intends to deepen ties, adding that the relationship “is not directed against anyone.” He emphasised that Israel alone decides its diplomatic relations.
Somalia’s foreign ministry condemned Sa’ar’s visit as a violation of sovereignty, calling any engagement without Mogadishu’s consent illegal. It urged international bodies, including the AU, to back Somalia’s unity.
The dispute has reached the UN Security Council, which convened an emergency meeting in late December, underscoring the sensitivity of African border disputes.
For the AU, the issue straddles two priorities: protecting territorial integrity and containing regional instability. The PSC’s “null and void” language reflects this strict posture.
For the UAE, the statement aligns it with the AU’s position at a time of heightened competition in the Horn of Africa.
With the PSC promising a fuller communiqué and the UAE signalling continued engagement, focus now shifts to whether Israel consolidates its recognition and how the region responds.
