UNSC extends CTED, UNDOF mandate, discusses recognition of Somaliland as Sovereign State
Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – UN Security Council on Monday met to discuss the threats to international peace and security after Israel recognized the northern region of Somalia ‘Somaliland’ as an independent and sovereign state
The Council members also unanimously adopted resolution 2810 (2025) renewed the mandate of the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate, which was set to expire on Thursday, until 5 January 2026.
The CTED assists the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the Council to carry out its policy decisions and conduct expert assessments of the 193 UN Member States.
Slovenia Ambassador, the Council President for December, read out a presidential statement that recalled the signing of the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement which ended the bloody Bosnian war of the 1990s and led to the creation of the sovereign, independent, multi-ethnic State of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Council members also unanimously adopted resolution 2811 (2025), extended for 6 months the mandate of the UN Disengagement Observer Force until 30 June 2026, and requested the Secretary-General to ensure that UNDOF has the required capacity and resources to fulfill the mandate in a safe and secure way.
Council held a briefing under its agenda item “threats to international peace and security” to discuss recent developments in Somaliland and Israel’s official recognition of the region.
Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, Departments of Political and Peace building Affairs and Peace Operations said that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on December 26 announced Israel’s official recognition of “Somaliland” as “an independent and sovereign State”.
“Somaliland” said the recognition would lead to “the establishment of full diplomatic relations” with Israel, he said, and framed it as confirmation of its sovereignty
Somalia’s Federal Government categorically rejected what it called “a deliberate attack” on its sovereignty
Mr. Khiari called on Somali stakeholders to “engage in peaceful and constructive dialogue, in particular recalled the 2023 Djibouti Communique”.
Somalia’s delegate spoke on behalf of Algeria, Guyana and Sierra Leone, condemned Israel’s “flagrant assault” on his country’s unity and territorial integrity through its recognition of “so-called ‘Somaliland’.
He said that any such purported arrangements are “null and void”, and a direct violation of the UN Charter, the fundamental principles of the African Union and international law.
“This act of aggression is aimed at encouraging fragmentation of Somalia,” he said.
He called on all Member States to condemn it “unequivocally”
US envoy said that Israel “has the same right to conduct diplomatic relations as any other sovereign State”
“We have no announcement to make regarding US recognition of ‘Somaliland’ and there has been no change in American policy,” she added.
Israeli delegate said that Israel’s engagement with Somaliland has a long and consistent record”
In 1960, when Somaliland emerged as an independent state, Israel was among 35 countries to formally recognize its independence, he said.
He added that Somaliland civilians were subjected to mass atrocities in the late 1980s crimes now widely recognized as the Isaaq genocide.
“Israel’s recognition of Somaliland is neither provocative nor novel,” he insisted.
“It is a lawful, principled acknowledgement of a long-established reality, consistent with international law and aligned with the values this Council is meant to uphold.”
Permanent Observer Mission of the League of Arab States said that international reactions reflect the “unanimous rejection and condemnation” of Israel for seeking to legitimize the secessionist aspirations of the north-western region of Somalia.
“Israel aims to use this as pretext for illegal presence on Arab African Somali soil to advance well known political, security and economic agendas that are unacceptable and condemned,” he said.
He said, “These actions flagrantly violate the United Nations Charter.”
Most dangerously, he said, they facilitate plans for the forced displacement of the Palestinian people and exploitation of northern Somali ports for the establishment of military bases.
Türkiye delegate said that Israel’s actions are a “direct threat” to an Arab League member.
They destabilize the Horn of Africa and gravely undermine interconnected Arab African regional security, he stated.
Israel’s announcement is “another example of the Netanyahu Government’s unlawful actions aimed at creating instability” regionally and globally.
Djibouti’s delegate stressed “This decision is in direct violation of established international norms and legal principles including those founding texts of the African Union and its Constitutive Act.
African Union said that Israel’s “reckless” decision “defiantly” violates the UN Charter, “arrogantly” challenges the Council’s authority and threatens the foundations of the international legal order.
The observer for the African Union rejected any initiative recognizing “Somaliland” as an independent entity.
He warned that any attempt to undermine Somalia’s unity, sovereignty or territorial integrity is “inconsistent with the main principles of the African Union”.
AU delegate added that respect for the UN Charter requires “full recognition” of Palestinians’ right to establish an independent State “rather than taking unprecedented, provocative steps towards a region on the African continent”.
