Addis Ababa (Kaab TV) – The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and the delegation he is leading received a warm welcome in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

President Hassan Sheikh is participating in the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, reinforcing, according to the Presidency, Somalia’s diplomatic efforts to safeguard the country’s unity and national cohesion.

During the summit, the President is expected to hold meetings with regional and African leaders attending the conference. He will commend them for their historic stance against what has been described as Israel’s unlawful violation of Somalia’s unity and will express gratitude for their support of Somalia’s membership in the African Union Peace and Security Council.

The President’s visit to Addis Ababa comes a day after the Peace and Security Council of the African Union reaffirmed its firm position on Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, rejecting any recognition of Somaliland as an independent state.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Council strongly condemned Israel’s recognition of Somaliland and called for the immediate reversal of that decision.

The Council emphasized that no country has the authority or legal mandate to alter the territorial structure of a member state of the African Union, and that any such recognition would be considered null and void, carrying no legal effect under international law.