By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The African Union (AU) on Thursday rejected any recognition of Somaliland as an independent state, reaffirming Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The AU’s Peace and Security Council in a statement “reiterates its strong condemnation and rejection of Israel’s unilateral recognition of the so-called Republic of Somaliland” and demanded its immediate revocation.
It also condemned what it called external interference in Sudan’s internal affairs amid ongoing conflict.
At a ministerial-level meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, the council stated that “no actor has the authority or standing to alter the territorial configuration of an African Union Member State,” and that any such declaration is null and void and has no legal effect under international law.
The Council’s strong-worded statement is in response to Israel’s announcement on Dec, 26 last year that it had officially recognized Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, becoming the sole country to do so. The move drew sharp criticism from across the region.
The Council welcomed recent military gains against the al-Shabaab terrorist group and encouraged Somali security forces, supported by the AU mission (AUSSOM) and partners, to sustain operations to “more effectively degrade and ultimately defeat Al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups.”
It urged Somalia’s federal government to intensify inclusive dialogue with federal member states and other stakeholders, noting that “divisions in the governance of the country complicate the fight against Al-Shabaab terrorists and prolong the efforts aimed at stabilisation and state-building.”
It also stressed the need for rapid force generation and for “sustainable, predictable, flexible and multi-year financing” for AUSSOM.
The Council strongly condemned external interference in Sudan’s internal affairs and urged external actors to refrain from “actions that will continue to fuel conflict,” as fighting persists across parts of the country.
This is reference to alleged supply of arms to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) which has been at war with the military over control of power since 2023 by external power.
