The EU demands respect for Somalia's sovereignty after Israel recognized Somaliland as an independent state

The European Union insisted on Saturday that Somalia's sovereignty must be respected, after Israel officially recognized its northern region, Somaliland, as an independent state, AFP notes.

Israel announced on Friday that it officially recognizes Somaliland, the first country to do so for the self-proclaimed republic, which unilaterally declared independence from Somalia in 1991.

The EU's spokesperson for foreign affairs, Anouar El Anouni, said that the EU bloc “reaffirms the importance of respecting the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, in accordance with its Constitution and the statutes of the African Union and the United Nations”.

“This is essential for the peace and stability of the entire region of the Horn of Africa”, the European official said in a statement.

“The European Union encourages substantial dialogue between Somaliland and the Federal Government of Somalia to resolve long-standing differences,” he added.

After Israel's decision, the authorities in Mogadishu denounced a “deliberate attack” on the country's sovereignty, while Egypt, Turkey, the Gulf Cooperation Council – made up of six states – and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, based in Saudi Arabia, condemned, in turn, the decision.

A self-proclaimed republic, Somaliland has a strategic position on the Gulf of Aden and has its own currency, passports and army, but remained diplomatically isolated after unilaterally declaring independence.

American President Donald Trump said on Friday, in an interview with the New York Post, that he opposes the recognition of Somaliland by the United States.

“No”, the American leader answered the journalist who asked him the question by phone, according to Agerpres. From his golf club in Florida, Trump then declared: “Are there really people who really know what Somaliland is?”.

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