Africa-Press – Kenya. The East African Community (EAC) has reaffirmed its firm commitment to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia amid rising regional tensions triggered by Israel’s decision to formally recognise the breakaway region of Somaliland.
In a statement issued by the EAC Secretariat in Arusha, the regional bloc said it recognises Somalia as a sovereign state under the authority of the Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
The Community emphasised that Somalia’s borders, as inherited at independence, are inviolable and must be respected in accordance with regional and international legal frameworks.
“The East African Community recognises the Federal Republic of Somalia as a single sovereign state,” reads the statement in part.
The EAC said its position is fully aligned with the African Union’s long-standing stance on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its member states, as provided for under the Constitutive Act of the African Union and reinforced through relevant AU decisions.
The bloc underscored that respect for existing borders remains a cornerstone of peace, stability and cooperation in Africa.
The statement follows Israel’s move to recognise Somaliland, a self-declared republic that broke away from Somalia in 1991 but has never before received formal international recognition.
The decision has sparked strong reactions across the Horn of Africa, with Somalia’s federal government condemning the move as unlawful and a direct violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Somalia has maintained that any recognition of Somaliland undermines its statehood and threatens regional stability at a time when the country is making progress in state-building, security reforms and economic recovery.
Mogadishu has vowed to pursue diplomatic and legal avenues to challenge the recognition and rally regional and international support for its position.
In its statement, the EAC noted that its stance is guided by the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community, which commits partner states to uphold the rule of law, peaceful coexistence and adherence to universally accepted principles of international relations.
The bloc said unilateral actions that disregard these principles risk destabilising the region and setting dangerous precedents.
The Community called on all stakeholders, both within and outside the region, to act within established regional and international legal frameworks relating to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.
It urged dialogue and diplomacy as the appropriate means of addressing disputes, rather than actions that could inflame tensions or undermine ongoing peace efforts.
Somalia joined the EAC in 2023, a move widely seen as a key step in its reintegration into regional political and economic structures after decades of conflict.
The EAC said Somalia’s membership reflects confidence in the country’s federal institutions and its commitment to regional cooperation.
By reaffirming its support for Somalia’s unity, the EAC said it remains committed to promoting peace, stability and regional integration in East Africa, while upholding the foundational principles that underpin cooperation among partner states.
