Israel becomes first country to formally recognise Somaliland as independent state

JERUSALEM - Israel on Dec 26 formally recognised Somaliland as an “independent and sovereign state” and signed an agreement to establish diplomatic ties, as the region’s leader hailed its first-ever official recognition.

Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has for decades pushed for international recognition, the key priority for president Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi since he took office in 2024.

Two sources from the Somali prime minister’s office said the government was holding a crisis meeting on the evening of Dec 26, while several countries condemned the move.

One of the sources told AFP that Somalia has “communicated with its key international partners and is discussing this issue”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he announced “the official recognition of the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state”, making Israel the first country to do so.

“The declaration is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords
,” Mr Netanyahu’s office said, referring to several agreements between Israel and Arab countries brokered by US President Donald Trump during his first presidency to normalise ties with Israel.

It said Mr Netanyahu invited Mr Abdullahi to visit.

Mr Abdullahi hailed the Israeli move, saying it marked the beginning of a “strategic partnership”.

“This is a historic moment as we warmly welcome” Israel’s recognition and “affirm Somaliland’s readiness to join the Abraham Accords”, he posted on X.

‘Very happy’

Close Somali ally Turkey said “this initiative by Israel, which aligns with its expansionist policy... constitutes overt interference in Somalia’s domestic affairs”.

Egypt’s foreign ministry said its top diplomat spoke with his counterparts from Turkey, Somalia and Djibouti, who together condemned the move and emphasised “their full support for the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia”.

The ministers also rejected “any unilateral actions that would compromise Somali sovereignty or undermine the foundations of stability in the country” and “any attempts to impose parallel entities that conflict with the unity of the Somali state”, the Egyptian ministry statement said.

In video showing Mr Netanyahu speaking to Mr Abdullahi by telephone, Mr Netanyahu said: “I want you to know that I am signing now as we speak Israel’s official recognition of the Somaliland,” adding that the new relationship would offer economic opportunities.

“I am very, very happy and I am very proud of this day and I want to wish you and the people of Somaliland the very, very best,” he said.

Mr Netanyahu also said that he would communicate to Mr Trump Mr Abdullahi’s “willingness and desire to join the Abraham accords”.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the two countries had agreed to establish “full diplomatic ties, which will include the appointment of ambassadors and the opening of embassies”.

“I have instructed my ministry to act immediately to institutionalise ties between the two countries across a wide range of fields,” he said in a statement.

A self-proclaimed republic, Somaliland enjoys a strategic position on the Gulf of Aden, has its own money, passports and army.

But since its unilateral declaration of independence in 1991, it has grappled with decades of isolation.

Strategic

Analysts say matters of strategy were behind Israel’s drive to recognise Somaliland.

“Israel requires allies in the Red Sea region for many strategic reasons, among them the possibility of a future campaign against the Houthis,” said the Institute for National Security Studies in a paper last month, referring to Yemen’s Iran-backed rebels.

“Somaliland is an ideal candidate for such cooperation as it could offer Israel potential access to an operational area close to the conflict zone,” it said, adding there were also economic motives.

Israel repeatedly hit targets in Yemen after the Gaza war broke out in October 2023, in response to Houthi attacks on Israel that the rebels said were in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The Houthis have halted their attacks since a fragile truce began in Gaza in October.

Somaliland’s lack of international recognition has hampered access to foreign loans, aid and investment, and the region remains deeply impoverished.

A deal between landlocked Ethiopia and Somaliland last year to lease a stretch of coastline for a port and military base enraged Somalia.

Israel has been trying to bolster relations with countries in the Middle East and Africa.

Historic agreements struck late in Trump’s first term in 2020 saw several countries including Muslim-majority United Arab Emirates and Morocco normalise relations with Israel, but wars that have stoked Arab anger, particularly in Gaza, have hampered recent efforts. AFP