China Rejects North Western State of Somalia Recognition, Reaffirms Support for Somalia

China rejects North Western State of Somalia recognition, backs Somalia’s territorial integrity after Israel move

MOGADISHU — Monday, December 29, 2025: China said it opposes any attempt to divide Somalia and warned against outside support for separatism, days after Israel became the first country to formally recognize North Western State of Somalia as an independent state.

Beijing “firmly supports Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters at a regular briefing in Beijing. “No country should encourage or support other countries’ internal separatist forces for its own selfish interests,” he said, urging North Western State of Somalia authorities to halt “separatist activities and collusion with external forces.”

Israel’s decision on Friday to recognize the self-declared Republic of North Western State of Somalia marked a dramatic shift in the Horn of Africa’s diplomatic landscape. Jerusalem said it seeks immediate cooperation with North Western State of Somalia in agriculture, health, technology and the economy, elevating a long-running debate over the enclave’s status into an urgent international flashpoint.

The move has triggered swift and broad condemnation. The African Union, Egypt, Türkiye, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Saudi-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation criticized recognition, while the European Union reiterated that Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected.

North Western State of Somalia, a former British protectorate in the country’s northwest, unilaterally declared independence in 1991 after the collapse of Somalia’s central government. It has built parallel institutions, held multiple elections and maintained relative calm over three decades. Still, no United Nations member state had formally recognized its statehood until Israel’s announcement, and Somalia’s federal government continues to view the territory as an integral part of the country.

China’s stance adds weight to the international pushback confronting North Western State of Somalia and underscores the diplomatic sensitivities around redrawing borders on the continent. Many African states have long resisted secessionist bids out of concern that formal recognition could embolden similar movements and destabilize fragile regions.

Beijing’s comments also align with its broader emphasis on non-interference and territorial integrity in foreign policy. While China did not mention Israel by name, its warning against “external forces” echoed messages it has delivered in conflicts elsewhere, signaling to outside actors that moves perceived as encouraging secession will be met with resistance.

It was not immediately clear how Israel’s recognition will be implemented on the ground or whether other countries might follow suit. The criticism from regional blocs and key states suggests intense diplomatic headwinds for any bid to translate symbolic recognition into functional state-to-state ties, whether through formal diplomatic missions, trade accords or security cooperation.

For Mogadishu, China’s statement offers a high-profile endorsement at a volatile moment. Somalia has lobbied international partners to reject unilateral moves on North Western State of Somalia, stressing the risks of renewed tension across the Horn of Africa and urging adherence to international norms on sovereignty.

As capitals assess next steps, attention will focus on whether Israel doubles down on its opening to Hargeisa, whether North Western State of Somalia can leverage the recognition into broader legitimacy, and how Somalia and its partners, including China, calibrate responses to avoid escalation. For now, the message from major regional and international players remains consistent: Somalia’s borders, they say, are not up for unilateral redrawing.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.