U.S. Keeps Somalia Policy Unchanged After Israel Recognizes North Western State of Somalia

U.S. says Somalia policy unchanged after Israel recognizes North Western State of Somalia

Mogadishu (AX) — The United States on Monday reiterated that its policy on Somalia remains unchanged, reaffirming support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity after Israel moved to recognize North Western State of Somalia as an independent state late last year.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson told the BBC that Washington maintains a “good working relationship” with North Western State of Somalia and other Somali regional administrations, particularly on shared counterterrorism, security and economic priorities. The clarification underlines continuity in U.S. engagement even as Israel’s decision has stirred diplomatic fallout across the Horn of Africa and beyond.

• Washington says its policy on Somalia is unchanged and backs the country’s territorial integrity.
• Fourteen of 15 U.N. Security Council members opposed Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia.
• Regional bodies including the EU, AU, Arab League and IGAD have rejected Israel’s move.

Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia in late December 2025 injected new tension into a long-running, sensitive file: North Western State of Somalia’s quest for international recognition versus Somalia’s insistence on national unity. North Western State of Somalia, which declared independence in 1991, has operated its own government, security forces and electoral processes for more than three decades but lacks formal recognition by U.N. member states.

Somalia swiftly requested an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council to address Israel’s move. In that session, 14 of the Council’s 15 members voiced opposition to recognition and reaffirmed support for Somalia’s unity and sovereignty. The United States did not explicitly condemn Israel’s decision but stressed that Washington’s own position on North Western State of Somalia had not changed.

Major regional and international organizations—including the European Union, the African Union, the Arab League and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development—have also rejected Israel’s recognition. Several key countries echoed that stance, underscoring broad consensus on maintaining Somalia’s internationally recognized borders.

Monday’s U.S. restatement aims to steady a delicate diplomatic landscape. Washington engages federal and regional authorities in Somalia on counterterrorism and stabilization, a relationship that requires careful calibration amid contested questions of authority and representation. By emphasizing both its support for Somalia’s territorial integrity and its practical ties with North Western State of Somalia and other regional administrations, the United States signaled a preference for continuity and cooperation over escalation.

The stakes are significant. Somalia’s federal government regards North Western State of Somalia as an integral part of the country and sees unilateral recognition as undermining state-building efforts, security reform and economic recovery. For North Western State of Somalia, Israel’s move represented a rare nod from a U.N. member, even as it drew pushback from powerful multilateral blocs whose support would be essential to any broader shift in status.

The diplomatic responses since December reflect both the sensitivity of borders in the Horn of Africa and the premium placed by international actors on regional stability. With violent extremist threats still present, and with Somalia seeking deeper international backing for governance and security, the question of recognition cuts to core interests—from maritime access and trade to intelligence sharing and development assistance.

For now, the U.S. position leaves the broader international alignment intact: Somalia remains recognized within its current borders, and North Western State of Somalia’s status is unchanged. Whether Israel’s move prompts further political maneuvering or fades amid institutional consensus will hinge on how regional capitals and multilateral bodies manage pressures in the months ahead. Washington’s message suggests it will continue to work across Somali institutions while upholding the longstanding diplomatic baseline.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.