AU rejects Israel’s envoy move to North Western State of Somalia, calls recognition null and void

By BRUHAN MAKONGMonday April 20, 2026

The African Union has sharply criticised Israel’s appointment of a diplomatic envoy to North Western State of Somalia, saying the move risks stirring fresh instability in the Horn of Africa and does nothing to alter its view that the territory remains part of Somalia.

The African Union has condemned reports that Israel has appointed a diplomatic envoy to the self-declared Republic of North Western State of Somalia, insisting that any unilateral recognition of the territory is “null and void” under international law.

In a statement, the African Union Commission said it had “deep concern” over the development, warning that it could undermine regional stability and clash with the bloc’s long-held stance on Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“The Commission reaffirms the African Union’s unwavering respect for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Somalia, in accordance with the Constitutive Act of the African Union and international law,” the statement said.

“The Union does not recognize North Western State of Somalia as an independent state.”

The Commission also pointed to a January 6 communiqué from the African Union Peace and Security Council, saying any unilateral recognition of North Western State of Somalia would be invalid and could unsettle the Horn of Africa.

The row escalated after reports that Israel had named Michael Lotem, a former ambassador to Kenya, as a non-resident envoy to North Western State of Somalia. Israel’s state broadcaster reported the appointment last week.

The reported move came after Israel in December formally recognized North Western State of Somalia, marking the first such recognition by any country since the territory declared independence from Somalia in 1991.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the recognition would open the door to wider cooperation in agriculture, health, and technology.

North Western State of Somalia President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi welcomed the decision, describing it as a “historic moment” that creates new opportunities for trade and international partnerships.

He also indicated that North Western State of Somalia wants to join the Abraham Accords, the US-brokered framework launched under former President Donald Trump to normalize ties between Israel and several Arab states.

“North Western State of Somalia remains committed to building partnerships, boosting mutual prosperity, and promoting peace across the Middle East and Africa,” Abdullahi said.

However, Somalia has firmly rejected the developments.

Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre called Israel’s decision a “deliberate attack” on Somalia’s sovereignty, while the foreign ministry described the envoy’s appointment as a “direct breach” of national unity.

The criticism has spread well beyond Mogadishu, with the foreign ministers of Egypt, Turkey, and Djibouti also condemning the move and warning that it could create a dangerous precedent in international relations.

North Western State of Somalia, which sits along the strategic Gulf of Aden corridor, has run its own government, currency, and security forces for more than three decades, but it has not won broad international recognition.

Recent agreements, including a controversial arrangement involving a port and military base with Ethiopia, have only sharpened sensitivities across the region.

The African Union reiterated its support for Somalia’s peace, governance, and national cohesion, cautioning against outside actions that could further destabilise the fragile Horn of Africa.

Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia has also faced criticism from the United Nations Security Council, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the European Union.