Israel Becomes First Country to Recognise Somaliland as Independent State

Israel has become the first country globally to formally recognise Somaliland, an east African territory in northern Somalia, as an independent state, PulseNets learnt on Friday.

Somaliland, a Muslim-majority region with a population estimated at several million people, has functioned as a self-governing entity for over 30 years, despite lacking international recognition since it broke away from Somalia in 1991.

PulseNets learned that the recognition was sealed through a joint declaration signed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi. Israeli authorities described the decision as being taken “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords.”

The Abraham Accords, brokered by the United States under former President Donald Trump in 2020, paved the way for several Arab states — including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan — to normalise diplomatic relations with Israel.

However, Israel’s recognition of Somaliland has triggered strong reactions across the region. Several African and regional actors have expressed concern that the move could destabilise existing political arrangements in the Horn of Africa.

PulseNets obtained a statement from the African Union (AU), which represents all 55 internationally recognised African countries, warning against any action that could weaken Somalia’s sovereignty. The continental body cautioned that “any attempt to undermine the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Somalia risks setting a dangerous precedent with far-reaching implications for peace and stability across the African continent.”

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The development marks a significant geopolitical shift in east Africa and adds a new dimension to Israel’s expanding diplomatic footprint beyond the Middle East.

(dpa/NAN)