African Union rejects Israel's Somaliland recognition, backs Somalia's unity

The African Union has delivered a forceful rejection of Israel's recognition of Somaliland as an independent state, declaring that no external actor possesses the authority to alter the territorial configuration of any AU member nation. The Peace and Security Council, convening at ministerial level in Ethiopia's capital Thursday, issued a statement "strongly condemning" Israel's December 26, 2025 declaration and demanding its immediate revocation, describing any such unilateral action as legally invalid under international law.

Sole Recognition Draws Continental Condemnation

Israel remains the only country to have recognized Somaliland's self-declared independence, a decision that has provoked sharp criticism across the Horn of Africa and the wider continent. The AU council emphasized that "no actor has the authority or standing to alter the territorial configuration of an African Union Member State," reiterating the organization's longstanding position on the inviolability of post-colonial borders. The statement explicitly rejects the so-called Republic of Somaliland and insists on Somalia's full sovereignty.

Counterterrorism Operations and Governance Challenges

Beyond the diplomatic rebuke, the council welcomed recent territorial gains against the al-Shabaab terrorist organization and encouraged Somali security forces, supported by the AU mission AUSSOM and international partners, to intensify operations aimed at "more effectively degrading and ultimately defeating" militant groups. However, the body cautioned that "divisions in the governance of the country complicate the fight against Al-Shabaab," urging Somalia's federal government to pursue more inclusive dialogue with federal member states. The council also called for sustainable, predictable, multi-year financing mechanisms for AUSSOM to ensure operational continuity.