Israel has become the first UN member state to formally recognise Somaliland as a sovereign state. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia during the 1991 civil war and until now, no country had formally recognised it as a separate state .
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signed a mutual recognition declaration with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, framing it as a diplomatic breakthrough aimed at expanding cooperation in areas like agriculture, health, technology and the economy.
Somaliland is situated on the Gulf of Aden, near the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a key maritime route. It has its own government, currency and is relatively stable. The country’s strategic location could be significant in Red Sea security and broader geopolitical strategy.
This counts as part of Israel’s strategic and geopolitical interest which is consistent with its outreach under the Abraham Accords framework, tying this recognition to its expanding diplomatic footprint among non-Western partners.
Although welcomed in Somaliland as a historic breakthrough, the decision of Israel’s recognition has sparked widespread international criticism and concern.
Somalia’s federal government strongly condemned the move as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. More than 20 Arab, Islamic and African states issued a joint statement rejecting the recognition, warning of serious repercussions for peace and security in the Horn of Africa and beyond.
The UN Security Council states are convening emergency discussions on the issue and the African Union, Arab League, EU and other regional bodies reiterated support for Somalia’s territorial unity.
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