The East African Community (EAC) has thrown its full diplomatic weight behind Mogadishu, issuing a stinging rebuke of Israel’s decision to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent state. The move, which has sent shockwaves through diplomatic corridors from Nairobi to Tel Aviv, marks a dramatic escalation in the struggle for the Horn of Africa’s future.

This decisive intervention comes barely 48 hours after a high-stakes phone call between President William Ruto and his Somali counterpart, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. For Nairobi, the stakes are far higher than mere diplomatic protocol; a destabilized Somalia poses a direct threat to Kenya’s national security and its economic ambitions in the region.

A United Front Against Tel Aviv

In a strongly worded statement released from its Arusha headquarters on Sunday, the EAC Secretariat did not mince words. The bloc demanded that Israel respect the "unity and territorial integrity" of the Federal Republic of Somalia, explicitly rejecting any attempts to redraw colonial-era borders.

"The East African Community recognizes the Federal Republic of Somalia as a single sovereign state," the statement read, aligning the bloc firmly with the African Union's stance. "We urge all stakeholders to act within established regional and international legal frameworks."

The diplomatic pushback was coordinated at the highest levels. Following Israel's announcement on Friday, President Ruto joined a flurry of emergency consultations with regional heavyweights, including:

• Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, who warned of "serious security repercussions."
• Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu, who reaffirmed adherence to the UN Charter.
• Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh, whose country hosts key military bases and views the shift with deep suspicion.

The 'Kenyan Lens': Why This Matters

For the average Kenyan, a diplomatic spat in the Red Sea might seem distant, but the ripple effects are local and immediate. Somalia is not just a neighbor; it is a critical trade partner and a security frontier. Kenya exports goods worth billions of shillings to Somalia annually—ranging from khat (miraa) to processed foods.

Security analysts in Nairobi warn that diplomatic fragmentation could embolden Al-Shabaab, who thrive on chaos. "If the region fractures, the militants find gaps to exploit," noted a senior security consultant based in Westlands. "A unified stance by the EAC is not just about politics; it is about keeping our borders safe."

Israel’s Gamble and Somaliland’s Joy

Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, signed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, is seen by analysts as a strategic bid to secure allies in the Red Sea following years of isolation. For Hargeisa, however, it is a moment of triumph after three decades of functioning as a de facto state with its own currency, army, and government.

President Abdullahi hailed the move as a "historic milestone," promising that Somaliland would be a beacon of democracy. Yet, for the EAC, the precedent is dangerous. Allowing unilateral recognition risks opening a Pandora’s box of secessionist movements across the continent.

As the dust settles, the message from Nairobi and its neighbors is clear: the road to Hargeisa must pass through Mogadishu. "We cannot afford another theatre of conflict," a source at Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confided. "The region is too fragile for experiments."