BRUSSELS: The European Union insisted Somalia's sovereignty should be respected after Israel formally recognised its northern region of Somaliland as an independent state. Israel said on Friday it was officially recognising Somaliland, a first for the self-proclaimed republic that in 1991 declared it had unilaterally seceded from Somalia. EU foreign affairs spokesman Anouar El Anouni said the bloc "reaffirms the importance of respecting the unity, the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia pursuant of its constitution, the Charters of the African Union and the United Nations." "This is key for the peace and stability of the entire Horn of Africa region," the spokesman said in a statement. "The EU encourages meaningful dialogue between Somaliland and the Federal Government of Somalia to resolve long-standing differences," he added.
After Israel's move, Mogadishu denounced a "deliberate attack" on its sovereignty, while Egypt, Türkiye, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Saudi-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation all condemned the decision. A self-proclaimed republic, Somaliland enjoys a strategic position on the Gulf of Aden and has its own money, passports and army. But it has been diplomatically isolated since unilaterally declaring independence.
Israel's recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland "is (a) threat to the security and stability of the world and the region," Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud told an emergency parliamentary session on Sunday. Somalia and the African Union reacted angrily after Israel became the first country to formally recognise the northern region of Somaliland as an independent state. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has pushed for international recognition for decades, with president Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi making it a top priority since taking office last year.
Several other countries condemned Israel's decision. The African Union (AU) rejected the move and warned that it risked "setting a dangerous precedent with far-reaching implications for peace and stability across the continent". Somaliland "remains an integral part" of Somalia, an AU member, said the pan-African body's head Mahamoud Ali Youssouf.
Türkiye, a close ally of Somalia, also condemned the move. "This initiative by Israel, which aligns with its expansionist policy... constitutes overt interference in Somalia's domestic affairs", a foreign ministry statement said. Egypt said its top diplomat had spoken with counterparts from Türkiye, Somalia and Djibouti, who together condemned the move and emphasised "full support for the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia".
Somalia's group Al Shabaab vowed to fight any attempt by Israel "to claim or use parts of Somaliland" following its recognition of the breakaway territory. "We will not accept it, and we will fight against it," Al Shabaab said in a statement. Its spokesman Ali Dheere said in the statement that Israel's recognition of Somaliland as a sovereign state showed it "has decided to expand into parts of the Somali territories" to support "the apostate administration in the northwest regions".
Somaliland's lack of international recognition has hampered access to foreign loans, aid and investment, and the territory remains deeply impoverished. A deal between landlocked Ethiopia and Somaliland last year to lease a stretch of coastline for a port and military base enraged Somalia. Israel has been trying to bolster relations with countries in the Middle East and Africa. — Agencies
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