BY TESFA-ALEM TEKLE
The Federal Government of Somalia has strongly condemned Israel’s decision to recognise Somaliland as an independent state, describing the move as a direct violation of Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Somalia government said it “categorically and unequivocally rejects” what it called an unlawful attempt to recognise Somalia’s northern region, insisting that Somaliland remains “an integral, inseparable and inalienable part” of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
The statement reaffirmed Somalia’s commitment to its sovereignty and territorial integrity as enshrined in the country’s provisional constitution, the United Nations Charter and the Constitutive Act of the African Union (AU).
“The Federal Government underscores that Somalia is a single, indivisible sovereign state, and no external actor has the authority or standing to alter its unity or territorial configuration,” the statement said.
Mogadishu further warned that any declaration or recognition aimed at undermining Somalia’s unity is “null, void, and without any legal or political effect under international law,” stressing that matters relating to governance, unity and constitutional order are the exclusive prerogative of the Somali people.
The reaction follows Israel’s announcement on Thursday that it had formally recognised Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, making it the first United Nations member to do so since Somaliland declared independence in 1991.
The African Union Commission also rejected any recognition of Somaliland, reiterating its long-standing position that the region is part of Somalia.
The AU cautioned that unilateral recognition could set a dangerous precedent across the continent, where several regions face separatist tensions.
Somalia has consistently opposed international engagement that treats Somaliland as a separate state.
In the past, Mogadishu has recalled diplomats and mobilised regional and international support to defend its territorial integrity and uphold the principle of African unity based on inherited colonial borders.
Somaliland, which has maintained its own government, security forces and institutions for more than three decades, continues to seek international recognition, arguing that it meets the criteria for statehood.
However, it remains unrecognised by the United Nations and the vast majority of the international community.
