South Sudan rejects Somaliland recognition in diplomatic phone call

JUBA – South Sudan has formally rejected the recognition of Somaliland during a weekend diplomatic phone call between senior officials in Juba and Mogadishu, reaffirming its support for Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.

The position was conveyed on Saturday during a telephone conversation between Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdisalam Abdi Ali, and South Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Monday Semaya Kenneth Kumba.

In a statement issued by Mogadishu, the two ministers discussed solidarity with Somalia and expressed their “unequivocal rejection of any actions that undermine the country’s territorial integrity”. They emphasized the importance of upholding international law and safeguarding Somalia’s national sovereignty, placing South Sudan among countries opposing Israel’s recent recognition of Somaliland.

The call between the two diplomats comes amid regional and international outrage over a controversial announcement on the status of Somaliland by Israel on Boxing Day.

In a public statement on X, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had officially recognized the Republic of Somaliland as an “independent and sovereign state” and had signed a joint and mutual declaration with Somaliland’s President, Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdallah, alongside Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar.

Netanyahu described the move as being “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords,” initiated under former U.S. President Donald Trump, and praised Somaliland’s leadership for promoting stability and peace. He also invited President Abdallah to pay an official visit to Israel and announced plans to immediately expand bilateral cooperation in agriculture, health, technology, and the economy.

Netanyahu further acknowledged the role of Israel’s security establishment, including the Mossad, in advancing the recognition and said Israel wished the people of Somaliland “success, prosperity, and freedom.” Somaliland’s president, according to Netanyahu, welcomed the declaration and praised Israel’s efforts in fighting terrorism and advancing regional peace.

The announcement triggered swift diplomatic backlash. Somalia condemned Israel’s decision as a violation of its sovereignty, while the AU and IGAD reiterated their commitment to Somalia’s territorial integrity and warned that unilateral recognition could destabilize the Horn of Africa. Several regional and international actors echoed these concerns, arguing that the move undermines established norms of international law.

Historical context

The dispute over Somaliland dates back to the collapse of the Somali state in 1991, when the northern region declared independence following years of political marginalization and widespread violence under the regime of Siad Barre.

Somaliland maintains that it is reclaiming sovereignty within the borders of the former British Somaliland, which briefly gained independence in June 1960 before voluntarily uniting with Italian Somaliland to form the Somali Republic. Despite developing its own governing institutions and maintaining relative stability, Somaliland has remained internationally unrecognized for more than three decades.