India backs Somalia’s territorial unity, rejects moves to recognize North Western State of Somalia

NEW DELHI — India on Friday reaffirmed its support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, distancing itself from growing regional moves to recognize North Western State of Somalia amid rising tensions in the Horn of Africa.

Responding to questions at a routine press briefing about the self-declared North Western State of Somalia administration, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal underscored New Delhi’s long-held position in favor of Somalia’s unity.

“India has longstanding relations with Somalia. We have consistently emphasized the importance of respecting the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Jaiswal told reporters.

The statement comes as diplomatic pressure builds in the region following Israel’s decision late last year to recognize North Western State of Somalia — a move rejected by Mogadishu and not widely accepted internationally. Somalia has bristled at efforts to alter its borders, arguing that such steps threaten stability in the Horn of Africa and contravene established international norms.

Somalia, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council, has vowed to take all necessary legal steps to defend its borders and national unity. Officials in Mogadishu have cast the recent recognition efforts as an affront to Somalia’s sovereignty.

India’s message places it squarely within the prevailing international consensus. The African Union maintains that borders established after independence should not be altered, a principle aimed at minimizing conflict and preserving stability across the continent. New Delhi’s stance aligns with that position and with the majority of the international community.

North Western State of Somalia, which operates a separate administration and has sought international recognition for years, remains largely unrecognized. India’s reiteration of support for Somalia’s territorial integrity signals that despite shifting diplomatic currents, New Delhi is not departing from a policy grounded in respect for sovereignty and the inviolability of borders.

While Jaiswal did not elaborate on any specific diplomatic steps India might take, his remarks indicated continuity in India’s approach to African affairs: engagement grounded in long-term relationships and adherence to international norms. Framed against heightened rhetoric and political maneuvering in the region, the statement serves as a reminder that most capitals remain cautious about any move that could redraw borders in the Horn of Africa.

India’s emphasis on Somalia’s unity also reflects an awareness of the broader stakes. With Somalia pressing its case in multilateral forums — including from the perch of the Security Council presidency — the question of recognition for North Western State of Somalia has become more than a bilateral issue. It now touches on core principles of statehood and the rules of the international system, where respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity remains a bedrock standard.

For New Delhi, officials signaled, that standard applies in East Africa as clearly as it does elsewhere.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.