UN reaffirms commitment to Somalia’s sovereignty, unity
During an emergency Security Council session convened to address Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland as an independent state, Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General responsible for political and peace operations across several regions, delivered a briefing on the matter. He underscored that the Council’s position on Somalia remains unchanged.
"I would like to recall, as has the Secretary-General, that the Security Council has repeatedly affirmed the respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of Somalia, as most recently reaffirmed in resolution 2809 (2025) of 23 December 2025," Khiari said.
He urged both Somalia and Somaliland to pursue dialogue rather than confrontation, calling on the two sides to "engage in peaceful and constructive dialogue" and to "refrain from any actions that could further escalate the situation."
Speaking on behalf of Somalia as well as the A3+ group — comprising Algeria, Guyana, and Sierra Leone — Somalia’s UN representative Abukar Dahir Osman delivered a strongly worded condemnation of Israel’s move.
"A3+ strongly condemns the flagrant assault by Israel on the unity and the territorial integrity of Somalia by recognizing as an independent entity to the northwestern region of Somalia, so-called Somaliland, which is legally incapable of entering into any agreement or arrangement or recognition with another country," he said.
Osman further rejected any attempt to legitimize such recognition, adding:
"A3+ will neither accept nor condone the illegal use of any territory, let alone that of a sovereign state which is a member of the United Nations, to deny the right of self-determination to a people who have been subjected to a crime against humanity for many, many years."
He stressed that neither the Somali nor Palestinian cause should be instrumentalized politically, warning:
"Israel's action not only sets a dangerous precedent but also poses a serious threat to regional and international peace and security.”
The United Kingdom’s acting ambassador to the UN reaffirmed London’s position, emphasizing that the UK does not recognize Somaliland and maintains full backing for Somalia’s unity.
"We regret any action that risks undermining peace and security in the region," he said.
China’s deputy UN representative expressed concern that Israel’s decision had heightened instability in the Horn of Africa, noting that the move had already drawn widespread condemnation from regional bodies.
"This has further increased the tensions in the Horn of Africa, drawing immediate and strong criticism and condemnations from regional organizations," he said.
"Somaliland is an integral part of Somali territory. China firmly supports Somalia's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and opposes any act to split its territory."
Russia echoed similar concerns, warning that such actions could undermine efforts to stabilize Somalia and combat extremist groups.
"We would also like to emphasize that decisions akin to the one taken by the Israeli cabinet risk further complicating the efforts of Mogadishu and its partners' efforts to combat al-Shabaab terrorists," a Russian representative said.
Pakistan’s deputy envoy also condemned the recognition, describing it as a breach of international law.
"It is a direct assault on Somalia's internationally recognized borders and constitutes a flagrant violation of international law," he said.
Representatives from Denmark and Greece aligned with the majority view in the Council, voicing support for Somalia’s sovereignty and unity.
The United States, however, took a different tone. Its deputy UN envoy criticized the convening of the emergency session, accusing the Council of inconsistency.
She argued that Israel’s recognition of Somaliland should be viewed alongside past recognitions of Palestine, stating that "no emergency meeting was called to express this Council's outrage."
She added:
"On the matter of Somaliland, we have no announcement to make regarding US recognition of Somaliland, and there has been no change in American policy."
Responding to the comparison, Slovenia’s UN ambassador — who currently presides over the Security Council — rejected the equivalence. He emphasized that Palestinian statehood is rooted in international law and the right to self-determination.
"Palestine is not part of any state. It is illegally occupied territory, as declared by the International Court of Justice," he said, referring to Palestine’s status at the UN.
"Somaliland, on the other hand, is a part of a UN member state," he added, stressing that recognizing the breakaway region violates the UN Charter.
He concluded by calling for renewed commitment to multilateralism, saying:
"sustainable peace is achieved not outside but through the United Nations itself. The United Nations is only as strong as the commitment of its member states, and for this reason, what the organization needs today is a mobilization of all of us, of its member states, for an alliance for peace."
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