IGAD Reaffirms Commitment to Somalia's Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity

MOGADISHU, June 18, 2026 (SONNA) — The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has reaffirmed its commitment to the sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and political independence of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and called for restraint following reports of a Somaliland embassy opening in Jerusalem.

In a statement issued by its Secretariat from Djibouti on Thursday, the regional bloc said its position is grounded in the IGAD Treaty, the Constitutive Act of the African Union, and the Charter of the United Nations.

IGAD said it had taken note of reports concerning the opening of a Somaliland embassy in Jerusalem, reiterating its longstanding position that Somalia's unity and territorial integrity must be fully respected.

The Secretariat expressed concern over any action or initiative that undermines the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Somalia, underscoring that such actions risk heightening tensions and undermining regional peace, stability, and cooperation.

The statement follows a similar position taken by Somalia's Federal Government. Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation expressed profound concern over reported engagement between the Israeli administration and the country's northern regions outside the framework of the Federal Government, describing any such engagement as a violation of Somalia's sovereignty and constitutional order.

Somalia regards its northern regions as an integral part of its territory and maintains that the Federal Government is the sole authority empowered to conduct the country's international relations.

IGAD, the Horn of Africa regional bloc headquartered in Djibouti, has repeatedly affirmed its support for Somalia's unity and territorial integrity.