The Federal Government of Nigeria has rejected Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as an independent state, describing the move as a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and a potential trigger for heightened instability in the Horn of Africa.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the government said Nigeria remained firmly committed to the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of states, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Constitutive Act of the African Union (AU).
Ebienfa said Nigeria gives its “firm and unequivocal support for the sovereignty, unity and statehood of the Federal Republic of Somalia,” stressing that the Federal Government in Mogadishu remains the only legitimate authority representing the Somali people.
According to the statement, Nigeria condemned any actions, statements or recognition capable of undermining Somalia’s constitutional order, warning that recognising any part of the country as an independent entity would only escalate tensions and worsen the already fragile security and political situation in the region.
“The stability of Somalia is integral to the peace and security of the entire Horn of Africa and the African continent at large,” the statement said.
It added that Nigeria would continue to support Somalia through multilateral engagement, diplomatic efforts and international cooperation aimed at rebuilding a stable, united and resilient Somali state.
The government urged Israel, as well as other regional and international actors, to strictly respect Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to support its institutions in their ongoing nation-building efforts.
Nigeria also issued a clear warning that any move to recognise Somaliland or any other secessionist entity would undermine peace initiatives, derail reconciliation processes and deepen instability in the region.
Israel had, on Friday, announced its recognition of Somaliland, a self-declared breakaway region of Somalia, as an “independent and sovereign state.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), said the recognition followed the signing of a joint declaration with Somaliland’s President, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, and Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar.
Netanyahu said the declaration was in the spirit of the Abraham Accords and announced Israel’s intention to pursue immediate cooperation with Somaliland in areas such as agriculture, health, technology and the economy.
Somaliland authorities welcomed the recognition, describing it as a milestone toward regional and global peace, and expressed readiness to join the Abraham Accords.
Meanwhile, Israel’s move has drawn widespread condemnation across Africa and the Middle East.
The African Union, in a statement issued on Friday, reiterated its unwavering support for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mr Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, said the bloc
“unequivocally rejects” any initiative aimed at recognising Somaliland as an independent entity, noting that the region remains an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
“Any attempt to undermine the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia runs counter to the fundamental principles of the African Union and risks setting a dangerous precedent with far-reaching implications for peace and stability across the continent,” Youssouf said.
Similarly, Somalia’s government condemned Israel’s action as unlawful and a deliberate attack on its sovereignty.
Egypt and the Arab League also denounced the recognition, describing it as provocative and a serious threat to regional security, as well as a breach of international law and the principles of territorial integrity upheld by the United Nations.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has since sought international recognition, but until Israel’s announcement, no country had formally recognised it as a sovereign state.