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AU Rejects Any Recognition of Somaliland, Reaffirms Support for Somalia’s Unity
Addis Ababa, December 26, 2025
The African Union Commission has formally rejected any move to recognize Somaliland as an independent state, reaffirming that the territory remains an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
In a press release issued on Thursday, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, said the AU was “deeply concerned” by recent developments related to Somaliland and reiterated the organization’s long standing position on the issue.
The Commission emphasized that the African Union’s stance is rooted in the principles of its Constitutive Act, particularly the respect for the intangibility of borders inherited at independence. This principle was first affirmed in 1964 by the Organization of African Unity, the AU’s predecessor, and has since remained a cornerstone of Africa’s post colonial order.
According to the statement, the Chairperson “firmly rejects any initiative or action aimed at recognizing Somaliland as an independent entity,” stressing that such steps would undermine Somalia’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The Commission warned that recognition could set a dangerous precedent with wide ranging consequences for peace and stability across the African continent.
The African Union also reaffirmed its full support for Somalia’s federal authorities, citing ongoing efforts to consolidate peace, strengthen state institutions, and promote inclusive governance. The statement underscored the AU’s commitment to working with Somali institutions and regional partners to maintain stability and uphold internationally recognized borders.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 following the collapse of the central government, but it has not been recognized by the African Union or the United Nations. While the region has maintained relative stability and built its own governing institutions, the AU has consistently maintained that any change to Somalia’s territorial status must be resolved within a continental and legal framework.
The latest statement signals that, despite renewed international debate, the African Union’s position on Somaliland remains unchanged.
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