EU spox: Respecting Somalia's territorial integrity "key" for stability across Horn of Africa

The European Union has underscored the importance of respecting Somalia’s territorial integrity following Israel’s decision to recognize the country's autonomous Somaliland region as an independent state.

The official Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Anouar El Anouni, has delivered the bloc's stance on this unprecedented decision, Caliber.Az reports citing the official statement.

"The European Union reaffirms the importance of respecting the unity, the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia pursuant of its constitution, the Charters of the African Union and the United Nations," El Anouni states in his remark, published a day following Israel's announcement.

He further points out that respecting Somalia's internationally recognized claim over the region is key to ensuring "peace and stability across the entire Horn of Africa region." 

The spokesperson concludes the EU's response by calling for "constructive dialogue" between the representatives of Somaliland and the Somali government to resolve their "long-standing differences" over the dispute. 

On December 26, Israel became the first state worldwide to recognize Somaliland, which is internationally recognized as an autonomous region within Somalia, as an independent state. The move has been decried by dozens of countries worldwide which have expressed their outrage over the decision. 

By Nazrin Sadigova