ISTANBUL

The East African Community (EAC) on Sunday reaffirmed its recognition of Somalia as a single, sovereign state, underscoring its commitment to the country’s unity and territorial integrity.

In a statement by the EAC Secretariat in Arusha, a city in Tanzania, the regional bloc said it recognizes Somalia under the authority of the Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia and in line with borders inherited at independence.

“The East African Community (EAC) notes and aligns with the position expressed by the African Union as reflected in the Constitutive Act of the African Union and relevant decisions concerning the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia,” the statement said.

Recalling the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community, it stressed the importance of respecting Somalia’s internationally recognized borders.

The EAC also called on all stakeholders to respect the unity and territorial integrity of Somalia and urged them to act within established regional and international legal frameworks governing state sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Israel on Friday announced its recognition of Somaliland, prompting criticism from Somalia, several other countries as well as the African Union.

Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991, a move neither recognized by Mogadishu nor the international community.