By HAN News Desk
ADDIS ABABA — The African Union and the United Arab Emirates have reaffirmed their support for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and security following a high-level meeting in Addis Ababa, according to a statement released by the AU.
The statement said the Chairperson of the African Union Commission met with the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, on the sidelines of ongoing diplomatic engagements in the Ethiopian capital. During the talks, both sides emphasized their commitment to Somalia’s territorial integrity, political unity and long-term stability.
The AU communiqué also addressed broader regional issues, including a dispute in the Persian Gulf. It described Iran’s control of the islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa as a violation of the sovereignty of the United Arab Emirates, reiterating the UAE’s long-standing claim that the islands are part of its territory.
The inclusion of the islands dispute in the statement has drawn attention from regional observers, who note that the declaration links African Union positions with Emirati foreign policy priorities beyond Africa. Some analysts interpret the statement as reflecting a convergence of diplomatic interests, with the AU’s expression of support for the UAE’s territorial claims coming alongside Abu Dhabi’s stated backing of Somalia’s unity.
Neither the African Union nor the UAE explicitly linked the two positions in the statement, and no details were provided on whether any formal agreement or reciprocal arrangement was discussed during the meeting.
Iran, which has administered the three islands since 1971, maintains that they are an integral part of its territory and has repeatedly rejected the UAE’s claims.
The African Union has not issued further clarification on the scope or implications of its statement, while Somali authorities have welcomed international expressions of support for the country’s unity amid ongoing political and security challenges.
The meeting underscores the UAE’s expanding diplomatic engagement with African institutions and the AU’s growing role in addressing both continental and wider geopolitical issues.
