Uganda has rejected Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, the self-declared region of Somalia, as an independent state, saying the territory is a product of prolonged insecurity in Somalia.
Henry Oryem Okello, the minister of state for Foreign Affairs, told Xinhua that Uganda aligns itself with the position of the African Union (AU), opposing Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state.
“Uganda upholds the principle established in the 1960s that borders and countries as they existed at the time of independence should be maintained,” Oryem said according to Xinhua.
“As such, Somaliland is a pseudo product of the insecure situation in Somalia.”
“Since the AU only recognized countries that emerged at the time of independence in the 1960s and 1970s, with their boundaries and sovereignty, hence, we cannot support the position that Israel has taken recently,” Oryem added.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced on December 26 that an agreement was signed “on mutual recognition and the establishment of full diplomatic relations” with Somaliland.
In response, several Arab and Muslim countries issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, and reaffirmed their support for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
On December 29, the three African members of the United Nations Security Council-Algeria, Sierra Leone, and Somalia-along with Guyana, collectively known as A3+, also strongly condemned Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as a sovereign state.
*From Xinhua
