Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt has formally called on the African Union to convene an emergency session of its Peace and Security Council in response to Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland, escalating diplomatic pressure as opposition to the move grows across Africa and the Arab world.
Speaking during a virtual ministerial meeting on Monday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty condemned Israel’s recognition as a clear breach of international law, the United Nations Charter, and the African Union’s Constitutive Act. He warned that the decision threatens peace and stability in the Horn of Africa, a region already grappling with political fragility, security challenges, and overlapping regional rivalries.
Abdelatty urged the AU to adopt a unified and unequivocal position rejecting what he described as a unilateral step that undermines the principle of territorial integrity, a cornerstone of the African Union since its founding. Cairo argues that allowing recognition of breakaway regions without the consent of central governments sets a dangerous precedent that could fuel separatism across the continent.
The Egyptian move follows a coordinated diplomatic campaign through regional and international organizations. On Sunday, the Arab League held an emergency meeting in Cairo, after which it called on the United Nations Security Council to take a firm stance against Israel’s recognition of Somaliland. The Arab League reaffirmed Somalia’s right to defend its sovereignty and territorial unity, framing the issue as a matter of international order rather than a bilateral dispute.
Condemnation has also come from a range of countries in Africa and the Middle East, as well as from Türkiye, a key ally of Somalia with deep political, economic, and security ties to Mogadishu. Critics argue that Israel’s announcement, made on Friday, risks inflaming tensions in the Horn of Africa at a time when regional cooperation is seen as essential to counter terrorism, piracy, and humanitarian crises.
Somalia’s federal government has responded forcefully, reiterating that it will not accept any infringement on its sovereignty. Officials in Mogadishu maintain that any foreign recognition or engagement with Somaliland without Somalia’s consent constitutes a violation of international law. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 following the collapse of the central government and has since functioned as a de facto state with its own institutions, elections, and security forces. Despite this, it has not received broad international recognition and is still regarded by the United Nations and the African Union as part of Somalia.
Egypt’s push at the African Union is aimed at transforming bilateral and regional objections into a continent-wide position. Diplomats say Cairo is seeking a formal AU statement or resolution that would reinforce Somalia’s territorial integrity and signal that recognition of breakaway regions will not be tolerated under existing African and international legal frameworks.
The controversy highlights the sensitivity of borders and statehood in Africa, where colonial-era boundaries and unresolved conflicts have made questions of recognition particularly fraught. For many African states, the issue extends beyond Somalia and Somaliland, touching on fears that similar moves elsewhere could destabilize fragile political balances.
As attention turns to the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, the outcome of any emergency session will be closely watched. A strong AU response could further isolate Israel’s position and shape the international community’s next steps, while also reaffirming the AU’s long-standing commitment to sovereignty, unity, and regional stability in the Horn of Africa.
