Saturday, 27 December, 2025
Israel on Friday became the first country to formally recognise the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state—a move that could reshape regional politics and challenge Somalia’s longstanding opposition to its secession.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel would seek immediate cooperation with Somaliland in agriculture, health, technology, and economic development. In a statement, he congratulated Somaliland’s President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, praised his leadership, and extended an invitation for him to visit Israel.
Netanyahu described the recognition as being “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, signed at the initiative of President Trump.”
The 2020 accords were brokered by Trump’s first administration and included Israel formalising diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, with other countries joining later.
Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Somaliland’s president signed a joint declaration of mutual recognition, the Israeli statement said.
Abdullahi said in a statement that Somaliland would join the Abraham Accords, calling it a step toward regional and global peace. He said Somaliland was committed to building partnerships, boosting mutual prosperity and promoting stability across the Middle East and Africa.
Egypt said on Friday that Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held phone calls with his counterparts from Somalia, Turkey, and Djibouti to discuss what they described as dangerous developments in the Horn of Africa following Israel’s decision to recognise Somaliland.
According to Egypt’s foreign ministry, the ministers condemned Israel’s recognition, reaffirmed their full support for Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity, and warned that acknowledging breakaway regions threatens international peace and security.
Somaliland has enjoyed effective autonomy, along with relative peace and stability, since 1991, when Somalia descended into civil war. However, despite functioning independently for over three decades, the breakaway region has remained unrecognised by any other country until Israel’s historic move.
Over the years, Somalia has rallied international actors against any country recognising Somaliland.
The former British protectorate hopes that recognition by Israel will encourage other nations to follow suit, increasing its diplomatic heft and access to international markets.
In March, Somalia and its breakaway region of Somaliland also denied receiving any proposal from the United States or Israel to resettle Palestinians from Gaza, with Mogadishu saying it categorically rejected any such move.
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Israel on Friday became the first country to formally recognise the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state—a move that could reshape regional politics and challenge Somalia’s longstanding opposition to its secession.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel would seek immediate cooperation with Somaliland in agriculture, health, technology, and economic development. In a statement, he congratulated Somaliland’s President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, praised his leadership, and extended an invitation for him to visit Israel.
Netanyahu described the recognition as being “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, signed at the initiative of President Trump.”
The 2020 accords were brokered by Trump’s first administration and included Israel formalising diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, with other countries joining later.
Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Somaliland’s president signed a joint declaration of mutual recognition, the Israeli statement said.
Abdullahi said in a statement that Somaliland would join the Abraham Accords, calling it a step toward regional and global peace. He said Somaliland was committed to building partnerships, boosting mutual prosperity and promoting stability across the Middle East and Africa.
Egypt said on Friday that Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held phone calls with his counterparts from Somalia, Turkey, and Djibouti to discuss what they described as dangerous developments in the Horn of Africa following Israel’s decision to recognise Somaliland.
According to Egypt’s foreign ministry, the ministers condemned Israel’s recognition, reaffirmed their full support for Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity, and warned that acknowledging breakaway regions threatens international peace and security.
Somaliland has enjoyed effective autonomy, along with relative peace and stability, since 1991, when Somalia descended into civil war. However, despite functioning independently for over three decades, the breakaway region has remained unrecognised by any other country until Israel’s historic move.
Over the years, Somalia has rallied international actors against any country recognising Somaliland.
The former British protectorate hopes that recognition by Israel will encourage other nations to follow suit, increasing its diplomatic heft and access to international markets.
In March, Somalia and its breakaway region of Somaliland also denied receiving any proposal from the United States or Israel to resettle Palestinians from Gaza, with Mogadishu saying it categorically rejected any such move.
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