Israel has ignited a major diplomatic row after becoming the first country in the world to formally recognise the breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent nation.
Netanyahu's declaration and Somali fury
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the move on Friday, stating Israel would seek immediate cooperation with the Republic of Somaliland in agriculture, health, technology, and the economy. He framed the decision as being "in the spirit of the Abraham Accords," the US-brokered initiative from 2020 that normalised relations between Israel and several Arab states.
The response from the Federal Government of Somalia was swift and severe. It condemned Israel's action as an "unlawful step" and a "deliberate attack" on its sovereignty. The prime minister's office in Mogadishu explicitly rejected any recognition of Somaliland's independence.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud escalated the rhetoric, labelling Netanyahu's recognition as "illegal aggression" and stating it was "contrary to established legal and diplomatic rules."
International reaction and regional stability
The European Union urged respect for Somalia's unity and called for "meaningful dialogue" between Mogadishu and Hargeisa, Somaliland's capital, to resolve their long-standing differences. This position was echoed by the United States, whose State Department reaffirmed it continues to recognise the territorial integrity of Somalia, which includes Somaliland.
More than twenty nations, predominantly from the Middle East and Africa, issued a joint statement rejecting Israel's recognition. They warned of the "serious repercussions" for peace and security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, and the potential effects on international stability. The statement, also signed by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, rejected any link between this move and attempts to "forcibly expel the Palestinian people out of their land."
Background of Somaliland's disputed status
Somaliland, a former British protectorate, declared independence from Somalia in 1991 as the country collapsed into civil war. Despite lacking international recognition, it has maintained effective autonomy, peace, and relative stability for over three decades, functioning with its own government, currency, and security forces.
The controversy follows earlier denials this year from both Somalia and Somaliland regarding a reported proposal from the US or Israel to resettle Palestinians from Gaza in the region. Mogadishu had stated it would categorically reject any such plan.
This unprecedented diplomatic move by Israel places the long-frozen dispute over Somaliland's status back into the global spotlight, with significant implications for the geopolitics of a strategically vital region.
