On Tuesday, January 6, 2026, the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU PSC) held an emergency ministerial meeting (Session 1324) to address the growing diplomatic crisis surrounding Israel’s recognition of the “Republic of Somaliland.”
The following is a combined summary of the proceedings and the resulting council decisions:
AU PSC Emergency Session: Defending Somalia’s Sovereignty
The meeting was convened at the urgent request of the Federal Government of Somalia under Article 7(o) of the AU PSC mandate, which allows for interventions when a member state’s independence or sovereignty is threatened. Presided over by the Foreign Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, H.E. Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the session featured statements from African Union Chairperson H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and the Foreign Ministers of Somalia and Djibouti.
Somalia’s Position: Rejection of Unilateral Recognition
Somali Foreign Minister H.E. Abdisalam Abdi Ali delivered a forceful address, characterizing Israel’s move to recognize Somalia’s northern region as a “unilateral step” that lacks legal standing. He argued that the recognition violates:
-
The Provisional Constitution of Somalia
-
The AU Constitutive Act (specifically the respect for borders inherited at independence)
-
The United Nations Charter
Minister Abdi Ali reaffirmed that Somalia is an indivisible sovereign nation and that Somaliland is an inseparable part of its federal territory. He warned that eroding Somalia’s integrity would destabilize the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden, ultimately hindering regional counterterrorism and maritime security efforts.
The Council’s Verdict and Regional Concerns
The AU PSC issued a strong condemnation of the unilateral recognition of the “Republic of Somaliland” by Israel and called for its immediate revocation. Beyond the Somali crisis, the meeting also addressed broader regional security issues:
-
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): The Council condemned attacks by the M23, ADF, and FDLR, denouncing foreign military support for these armed groups and demanding the withdrawal of external forces.
-
Regional Diplomacy: The Council welcomed political engagements between Burundi and Rwanda and called for a political solution to the de-escalation of violence in Eastern DRC.
-
Maritime & Humanitarian Strategy: Members underlined the need for resource mobilization to address humanitarian crises in the DRC and Burundi. They also rejected the establishment of parallel administrations on Congolese territory.
Summary of the Declaration
The 1324th Ministerial Meeting concluded by reasserting that no external party holds the legal authority to alter the territorial arrangements of an AU member state. The Council reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Somalia’s peace-building initiatives—noting Somalia’s recent achievement of taking over the UN Security Council presidency this month—and urged all member states to oppose external meddling to maintain African unity and international law.
