Guinea-Bissau Denies Reports It Will Become Second Country to Recognize Somaliland
Guinea-Bissau has dismissed reports that it is preparing to recognize Somaliland, reaffirming its commitment to the African Union’s position and Somalia’s sovereignty. The denial comes months after Israel became the first country to formally recognize Somaliland, fueling speculation that other nations could follow.
HARGEISA (Somali Report) — Guinea-Bissau has firmly denied reports circulating on social media that it is preparing to recognize Somaliland as an independent state, dismissing the claims as false and reaffirming its support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The clarification comes after widespread online speculation suggested the West African nation was poised to become the second country to recognize Somaliland, following Israel’s landmark decision in late 2025.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Communities, Guinea-Bissau said no decision had been taken—or was under consideration—to recognize what it described as the “so-called Republic of Somaliland.”
“The Government of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau has not taken, nor is it currently considering, any decision on this matter,” the ministry said.
It added that Guinea-Bissau’s foreign policy remains guided by the principles of the United Nations Charter, the Constitutive Act of the African Union, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all member states.
The ministry also stressed that any future foreign policy decisions would only be announced through official government channels, urging the public to disregard unverified reports circulating on social media.
The denial follows months of heightened diplomatic activity surrounding Somaliland’s international recognition campaign.
After operating as a self-governing territory since declaring independence from Somalia in 1991, Somaliland secured its biggest diplomatic breakthrough when Israel formally recognized it in December 2025. The decision marked the first formal recognition by a United Nations member state and was welcomed by Somaliland as a historic milestone in its three-decade pursuit of statehood.
The move, however, was strongly condemned by Somalia’s Federal Government, which described it as a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
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The African Union, IGAD, the Arab League and several African governments have also reaffirmed their longstanding position that Somaliland remains part of the Federal Republic of Somalia and have opposed unilateral recognition outside an agreed political settlement.
The speculation surrounding Guinea-Bissau illustrated how closely the international community is watching Somaliland’s diplomatic campaign.
In recent months, Somaliland has intensified efforts to win recognition by expanding diplomatic outreach across Africa, the Middle East, Europe and North America. President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro has promoted deeper political and economic partnerships, arguing that Somaliland’s democratic institutions, relative stability and strategic location justify international recognition.
Despite those efforts, analysts say the path remains difficult.
Recognition of a state is a sovereign political decision taken individually by governments, but African states have traditionally aligned their positions with the African Union’s longstanding policy of respecting colonial borders and preserving the territorial integrity of member states.
Diplomatic observers say Guinea-Bissau’s swift response underscores the sensitivity of the issue and the importance governments place on correcting misinformation before it affects regional relations.
For Somalia, the denial represents a diplomatic reprieve at a time when Mogadishu continues lobbying African and international partners to reject recognition of Somaliland.
For Somaliland, meanwhile, the statement highlights the challenges that remain despite recent diplomatic gains. While Israel’s recognition has reinvigorated Hargeisa’s campaign, no other country has formally followed suit, leaving Somaliland’s decades-long quest for international recognition still facing significant political and diplomatic hurdles.
About the Author
Bashir Guhad is a reporter at Somali Report covering politics, security, business, and trade across the Somali region.