AU condemns Israel's decision to appoint diplomatic envoy to Somaliland
In a statement issued on April 19, 2026, the 55-member continental organisation expressed "deep concern" regarding recent developments on Israel's reported decision to appoint a diplomatic envoy to Somaliland, a self-declared region of Somalia.
People walk by the flags of Israel and Somaliland flying alongside each other at the entrance to a fruit farm between the capital city of Hargeisa and Port city of Berbera along the highway connecting the two in Somaliand. (Credit: AFP)
ADDIS ABABA — The African Union (AU) on Sunday "strongly condemned" reports of Israel's decision to appoint a diplomatic envoy to the "so-called Somaliland."
In a statement issued on April 19, 2026, the 55-member continental organisation expressed "deep concern" regarding recent developments on Israel's reported decision to appoint a diplomatic envoy to Somaliland, a self-declared region of Somalia.
The AU reaffirmed its "unwavering respect for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Somalia" in accordance with the Constitutive Act of the African Union and international law.
"The African Union does not recognise Somaliland as an independent state," the statement read. "The AU remains committed to supporting Somalia's peace, governance, and national cohesion."
Recalling an AU Peace and Security Council communique that was issued in January, it underscored that "any unilateral recognition of Somaliland is null and void." It warned that such actions risk undermining regional stability.
On December. 26, 2025, Israel became the first country in the world to formally recognise Somaliland as a sovereign state, prompting immediate condemnation from Somalia and the international community.
In a ministerial-level meeting held on Jan. 6, the AU Peace and Security Council rejected the unilateral recognition of Somaliland by Israel and called for its immediate revocation.