NEW YORK, United Nations – The African Union (AU) has delivered a categorical rejection of any diplomatic initiatives aimed at recognizing the Somaliland region as an independent state, declaring the territory an “integral and inseparable” part of the Federal Republic of Somalia. Speaking at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) during a high-level briefing on threats to international peace and security, the AU representative issued a stark warning regarding the continental implications of such moves.
Mr. Salem Matug, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the African Union to the UN, articulated the continental body’s unwavering position. He stated that the AU “firmly rejects any initiative or action” that seeks to legitimize the breakaway region’s claim to statehood.
The intervention highlighted the legal and political principles that bind the African Union’s member states. Mr. Matug emphasized that the unity of Somalia is sacrosanct under the AU’s constitutive act. He warned the Council that any attempt to erode the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic “runs counter to the fundamental principles of the African Union”.
Beyond the legalities, the AU diplomat focused on the potential destabilizing effects of the recognition. He argued that legitimizing secessionist movements risks setting a “dangerous precedent” with “far-reaching implications for peace and stability across our Continent.” This statement serves as a reminder of the AU’s longstanding policy of respecting borders inherited at independence to prevent the fragmentation of African nations.
The African Union’s pronouncement at the Security Council reinforces the diplomatic firewall protecting Somalia’s unity. By framing the issue as a threat to continental stability rather than a localized dispute, the AU has effectively rallied international support behind Mogadishu, signaling that the recognition of Somaliland meets with total opposition from the highest political body in Africa.
