Addis Ababa, 7 January 2026 – In a decisive ministerial-level meeting, the African Union’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) has issued a forceful communique unreservedly condemning Israel’s unilateral recognition of the “so-called Republic of Somaliland.”
It reiterated its unwavering commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
The communique, adopted at the PSC’s 1324th meeting on Tuesday, represents the AU’s highest-level and most comprehensive response to the diplomatic move made by Israel in late December 2025. The Council, comprising AU foreign ministers, framed the recognition as a fundamental threat to continental peace and a grave violation of core AU and UN principles
The Council “strongly condemns and rejects in the strongest terms” Israel’s action and demands its “immediate revocation.” It leaves no room for ambiguity, declaring that “no actor has the authority or standing to alter the territorial configuration of an AU Member State,” and that any such declaration is “null, void, and without legal effect under international law.”
The statement builds upon the earlier rejection issued by AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf on 26 December 2025, which the Council formally welcomed. It warns that such a move “risks setting a dangerous precedent with far-reaching implications for peace and stability across the continent” and undermines the vision of an integrated Africa as outlined in Agenda 2063.
Grounding its position in the bedrock principles of the African political order, the PSC recalled the sacred commitment of all member states to the “inviolability of borders inherited” from the colonial era, as solemnly pledged in the 1964 Cairo Declaration of the OAU. It reaffirmed its strong commitment to these principles as enshrined in the AU Constitutive Act and the PSC Protocol.
Continental Unity
The Council issued a direct appeal for unity, calling “upon all Member States and international partners to reaffirm Somalia’s sovereignty and unity, reject all illegal acts undermining international principles, and stand in solidarity to uphold African unity, international legality, and regional stability.”
It further urged AU members to support diplomatic efforts at the United Nations General Assembly to uphold Somalia’s territorial integrity.
Amidst the diplomatic spat, the PSC also directed attention to Somalia’s internal progress and ongoing challenges. It commended the Federal Government’s state-building efforts and encouraged the continuation of inclusive dialogue within Somalia as the only viable path to resolving internal differences.
The Council further underscored the imperative to “maintain the current momentum in the fight against the Al Shabaab terrorist group and its affiliates,” stressing that resources and focus must not be diverted from this critical security struggle.
The PSC has mandated the AU Commission, in collaboration with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the East African Community (EAC), to continue supporting an inclusive political dialogue in Somalia.
“We have decided to remain actively seized of the matter,” the Council says, indicating ongoing high-level monitoring and potential further action.
