The African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council has reaffirmed the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia, rejecting any recognition of Somaliland as an independent state.
The council issued a statement reiterating its strong condemnation and rejection of Israel’s “unilateral recognition of the so-called Republic of Somaliland,” and demanded the immediate reversal of the move.
At a ministerial meeting in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, the council said that “no one has the authority or legitimacy to change the territorial integrity of an African Union member state,” and that any such declaration is null and void and has no legal effect under international law.
The strong statement by the Peace and Security Council came after Israel announced on December 26 last year that it had officially recognized Somaliland as an independent state with full sovereignty, becoming the only country to do so. The move drew strong condemnation from countries in the region.
The Council welcomed the recent military successes against Al-Shabaab, and encouraged the Somali security forces, supported by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and other partners, to continue operations to effectively degrade and defeat Al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups.
