The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has delivered a strong rebuke of Israel’s decision to recognise Somaliland as an independent state, with the majority of members condemning the move as a serious breach of international law and a threat to Somalia’s sovereignty. The emergency session, convened on 29 December 2025, saw diplomatic pressure mount on Tel Aviv as multiple governments underscored the primacy of territorial integrity under the UN Charter and long-standing international norms.
At the session, the A3+ group — comprised of Algeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Guyana issued a joint statement denouncing the recognition as “a flagrant assault on the unity and territorial integrity of Somalia” and insisting that Somaliland remains legally incapable of entering into unilateral recognition agreements with other states. The bloc’s statement, read by Somalia’s UN ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman, called for the decision to be declared null and void and urged all member states to uphold international law and reject any actions that undermine state sovereignty.
Council delegates from across regions echoed these concerns, warning that the recognition could set a dangerous precedent and destabilise the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region. Representatives from nations including the United Kingdom, China, Djibouti and Turkey reaffirmed their support for Somalia’s territorial integrity and stressed that any change in status must come through peaceful negotiation between Somalis themselves, not unilateral acts by external powers.
While the United States, a permanent UNSC member and close ally of Israel defended Israel’s prerogative to establish diplomatic relations, it clarified that it has not altered its own policy on Somaliland and reiterated its backing for Somalia’s unity. Other member states, including Pakistan and several Arab League representatives, labelled the recognition a violation of international law and cautioned that it could exacerbate regional tensions and weaken broader commitments to sovereign integrity.
The session underscored deep international divisions over the issue, with most council members urging respect for established borders and calling on both Somalia and Somaliland to engage in constructive dialogue to resolve their differences within accepted legal frameworks.
