Israel’s recognition of Somaliland ‘null and void’ – African Union

Any attempt to alter borders by force or undermine the unity of a member state is unlawful, the continental body has warned

The African Union (AU) has condemned Israel’s recent recognition of Somaliland as an independent country, warning that no external actor has the authority to alter the territorial configuration of its member states and that any such declaration is “null and void” under international law.

In a statement on Thursday, the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) rejected what it described as the unilateral recognition of the “so-called Republic of Somaliland” and called for its immediate revocation.

“Any attempt to alter borders by force, or illegal means to undermine the unity and territorial integrity of an AU member state, contravenes the Constitutive Act and sets a dangerous precedent with far-reaching implications for peace, security, and stability across the continent,” the council warned.

Israel became the first UN member state to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent country in late December, signing a declaration establishing diplomatic relations with authorities in Hargeisa.

READ MORE: Israel faces backlash over recognition of African territory

Somaliland broke away from Somalia and declared independence in 1991 after a decade-long civil war. The territory, located along the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden, has since built its own relatively stable government, security institutions, and currency, but it has not been internationally recognized.

The move by West Jerusalem faced widespread backlash, with Somalia, which still regards Somaliland as part of its territory, describing it as an attack on its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf had earlier warned that Israel’s recognition risks setting a dangerous precedent with far-reaching implications for peace and stability across the continent.

Following a ministerial-level meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, on Thursday, the AUPSC expressed support for Youssouf’s statement, adding that any “action aimed at recognizing the northern region of Somalia” as an independent state “runs counter” to AU and UN principles.

The organization rejected “all forms of external interference aiming at dividing Somalia.”

In a separate statement, the AU body also condemned external interference in Sudan’s internal affairs and urged foreign actors to refrain from “actions that will continue to fuel conflict” in a country locked in a brutal civil war since April 2023.