African Union demands revocation of Israel’s Somaliland recognition

Addis Ababa/Hargeisa/Mogadishu — The African Union’s (AU) Council for Political Affairs, Peace and Security on Tuesday issued a strongly worded communique condemning Israel’s recent recognition of the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, calling for the decision to be immediately revoked and reaffirming the AU’s commitment to Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

In the communique, released after an emergency ministerial meeting held in Addis Ababa on 6 January 2026, the AU Peace and Security Council stated it was “profoundly concerned by the unilateral recognition by Israel of the so-called Republic of Somaliland” and described the act as a threat to the sovereignty, unity and stability of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The council cited its powers under Article 7 of the AU Protocol and reiterated its adherence to core principles of the AU Constitutive Act, the UN Charter, and longstanding continental norms against altering colonial borders. It called on Israel to reverse its recognition, warning that the move could set a dangerous precedent with far-reaching consequences for peace across Africa.

Earlier in late December 2025, Israel became the first United Nations member state to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent state — a territory that declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but had never been recognised internationally. The decision, announced by Israeli leaders, was framed as part of a broader strategy to deepen diplomatic ties and promote cooperation on security, technology, and economic development.

The situation escalated this week when Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar made a high-profile visit to Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, marking the first official visit by an Israeli cabinet member since the recognition. Sa’ar met with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro, holding a joint press conference at the presidential palace where both leaders touted a new era of partnership. According to reports, discussions focused on future cooperation in trade, water and agriculture, health and education, defense and security, and plans for reciprocal embassies.

Somalia’s government reacted furiously, denouncing Sa’ar’s visit as an illegal incursion and a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. In a public statement, Somalia’s foreign ministry said engagement with Somaliland officials without Mogadishu’s consent was “unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of a United Nations member state” and contrary to the UN Charter. Somalia has also urged the AU and the international community to unite against what its diplomats describe as a breach of international law.

Regional and international backlash has been swift. The Arab League, Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), several African states such as South Africa, and international bodies including IGAD have rejected Israel’s recognition, reaffirming support for a unified Somalia and warning of broader instability. A number of countries and blocs have criticized the move as threatening peace in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.

In response, Somaliland’s leadership has hailed Israel’s recognition as a historic breakthrough, expressing hope that it will catalyze further international recognition and attract investment. Somaliland officials insist that no Israeli military bases or resettlement plans are part of the deal, despite external speculation to the contrary.

As diplomatic tensions deepen, the crisis highlights intricate geopolitical fault lines — between continental norms and unilateral foreign policy choices, between Somalia’s territorial claims and Somaliland’s push for international legitimacy, and between broader Middle Eastern and African strategic interests. The coming weeks will test the ability of the AU, regional partners, and global institutions to manage disputes over self-determination and sovereign boundaries.