Israel became the first country in the world to formally recognize Somaliland, a significant diplomatic breakthrough for the breakaway region of the Horn of Africa.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Friday that Israel and Somaliland had signed a joint declaration establishing full diplomatic relations, describing it as “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords,” a series of agreements brokered by the United States to establish formal relations between Israel and Arab countries.
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Somalia’s government issued a statement hours after Israel’s announcement, calling the move an “attack” on its sovereignty and an “unlawful act” and saying Somaliland was an “inseparable” part of the country.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, but was unable to gain recognition from any UN member state. The region controls the northwestern part of the former British protectorate of northern Somalia.
Somalia has never accepted Somaliland’s independence.
Somalia’s Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali participated in a telephone conversation with the foreign ministers of Egypt, Turkiye, and Djibouti and reiterated his support for the unification of Somalia.
Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said top diplomats from the four countries discussed how recognizing independence for regions within sovereign states would set a “dangerous precedent” that violates the United Nations Charter.
“Respect for national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity are fundamental pillars of the stability of the international system and must not be violated or circumvented under any pretext,” the ministry said.
Prime Minister Netanyahu congratulated Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known as Abdirahman Ciro, in a video call, praising his “leadership and dedication to promoting stability and peace” and inviting him to visit Israel.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the agreement followed a year of extensive dialogue between the two governments and was based on a joint decision by Prime Minister Netanyahu and Mr. Ciro to establish full relations, including the appointment of ambassadors and the opening of embassies in both countries.
“We will work together to promote relations between our two countries, regional stability and economic prosperity,” Saar wrote on social media, adding that he had instructed his ministry to immediately institutionalize relations in a wide range of areas.
Prime Minister Shiro hailed the development as a “historic moment” and expressed Somaliland’s readiness to join the Abraham Accords.
The Somaliland president said the move “marks the beginning of a strategic partnership that will promote mutual interests, strengthen peace and security in the region, and bring common benefits to all stakeholders.”
“complex” problems
The recognition represents a dramatic change in Somaliland’s fortunes after years of diplomatic isolation.
The region broke away from Somalia during decades of brutal civil war under the dictatorship of Siad Barre, whose forces decimated the north. While much of Somalia fell into turmoil, Somaliland stabilized by the late 1990s.
Somaliland has its own currency, flag, and parliament and has developed a political identity distinct from Somalia. However, its eastern region remains contested by communities that do not support separatist plans in the capital, Hargeisa.
In recent years, Somaliland has sought international recognition and developed relations with the United Arab Emirates and Taiwan, signatories of the Abraham Accords.
Prominent figures within US President Donald Trump’s Republican Party, including Sen. Ted Cruz, have been vocal advocates for deeper ties between Somaliland and Israel. Mr. Cruz has repeatedly urged the United States to recognize Somaliland.
In August, President Trump indicated he was preparing to address the issue when asked about Somaliland at a White House press conference. “It’s another complex issue, but we’re working on Somaliland,” he said.
The US has not changed its position on this issue so far.
The announcement comes amid waning U.S. interest in Somalia, with Trump’s repeated verbal attacks on the country and the president.
Earlier this year, reports emerged linking the possible recognition of Somaliland to ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and plans to force them to relocate to Africa.
The foreign ministers of Egypt, Turkiye, Somalia and Djibouti warned against such a move in an earlier telephone conversation.
“The participants also confirmed their categorical rejection of any plan to expel the Palestinian people from their land, which is unequivocally rejected by the majority of the world’s countries in both formal and substantive terms,” the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said.
In 2024, Ethiopia also sought a deal with Somaliland, offering recognition in exchange for Addis Ababa’s maritime access, but backed out under diplomatic pressure.
Jethro Norman, a Somalia expert at the Danish Institute of International Affairs, told Al Jazeera it was unclear whether the development would prompt other countries to follow suit, but he said it could “strengthen other centrifugal forces” in the politically divided country.
Somalia operates a federal system, giving each state significant autonomy. Two major states, Puntland and Jubaland, withdrew from the system amid constitutional and electoral disputes.
In a post on X, Puntland’s interior minister suggested that he viewed the development favorably, saying that patience will be rewarded. “Puntland needs to make strategic calculations,” said Juha Farah.
“Essentially, you already have a series of de facto states, and Israel’s message is that if you provide strategic value, recognition will be transactional rather than principled,” he added.
