Israel has announced it will recognise Somaliland as an independent state, becoming the first nation to formally acknowledge the breakaway region since it declared independence from Somalia in 1991.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel intended to move quickly to expand cooperation in areas including agriculture, health and technology. Somaliland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, described the move as “historic” and confirmed that the territory planned to join the Abraham Accords.
Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, said both sides had agreed to establish full diplomatic ties, including the appointment of ambassadors and the opening of embassies.
Somalia condemned the decision, calling it an attack on its sovereignty. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said Israel had violated Somalia’s territorial integrity. State minister for foreign affairs Ali Omar described the recognition as “state aggression” and accused Israel of pursuing the move to support what he claimed were attempts to displace Palestinians from Gaza.
The foreign ministries of Somalia, Egypt, Turkey and Djibouti issued a joint statement rejecting Israel’s decision.
Somaliland has operated as a de facto state for more than three decades, maintaining its own institutions and stability in contrast to southern Somalia, where conflict and political fragmentation have persisted.
Somaliland’s president defended the development, saying it was not directed against any regional state nor intended to threaten stability.