Cairo has called for an emergency session of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council to address Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland. The call came during a virtual ministerial meeting addressed by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aati.
Minister Abdel-Aati reiterated Egypt’s complete rejection of Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as an independent state. He urged the Peace and Security Council to convene urgently to address what he described as a “dangerous development” and to reaffirm the unity and territorial integrity of Somalia.
According to Abdel-Aati, the proposed session aims to reject unilateral Israeli actions that threaten regional and international peace and security. He emphasized that Israel’s recognition constitutes a blatant violation of the principles of international law, the United Nations Charter, and the Constitutive Act of the African Union.
The Egyptian Minister added that this recognition also undermines the foundations of regional and international peace and security, particularly in the Horn of Africa. Israel has defended its official recognition of Somaliland amid international skepticism regarding its intentions, specifically concerning the potential transfer of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip or the establishment of military bases.
The Arab League’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Majid Abdel Fattah Abdel Aziz, told the Security Council that the 22-member League rejects any actions arising from this “illegitimate recognition” that aim to facilitate the displacement of the Palestinian people or exploit ports in northern Somalia for the establishment of military bases.
Somalia’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Abu Bakr Othman, stated that Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone, and Somalia – all members of the Council – categorically reject any attempt by Israel to transfer Palestinians from Gaza to the region located in northwestern Somalia. The United Kingdom also stated on Monday that it does not recognize the independence of Somaliland and reaffirmed its support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. China also rejected recognizing Somaliland’s independence. Last Friday, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed…
