NAIROBI, Kenya- Somalia and the African Union (AU) have strongly condemned Israel’s decision to formally recognise Somaliland as an independent state, calling it a direct attack on Somalia’s sovereignty and a move that risks destabilising the region.
Israel’s Announcement and Somaliland’s Response
On Friday, Israel announced it viewed Somaliland as an “independent and sovereign state,” becoming the first country to formally recognise the breakaway region. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has remained diplomatically isolated despite operating with its own currency, passports, and army.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the recognition as being “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords” and invited Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi to visit. Abdullahi hailed the decision as a “historic moment” and the beginning of a “strategic partnership.”
Celebrations broke out in Hargeisa, Somaliland’s capital, where crowds waved flags and marked what they saw as a breakthrough in their decades-long quest for recognition.
Regional and International Backlash
Somalia rejected Israel’s move, calling it a “deliberate attack” on its sovereignty. The AU echoed this stance, warning that the recognition set a “dangerous precedent” with implications for peace and stability across Africa. “Somaliland remains an integral part of Somalia,” AU head Mahamoud Ali Youssouf said.
Turkey, a close ally of Somalia, condemned the decision as “overt interference in Somalia’s domestic affairs.” Egypt said its foreign minister had spoken with counterparts from Turkey, Somalia, and Djibouti, who collectively reaffirmed support for Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity.
The Palestinian Authority also rejected the recognition, accusing Israel of previously naming Somaliland as a destination for the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.
Analysts suggest Israel’s recognition of Somaliland is driven by regional security interests. The self-proclaimed republic sits on the Gulf of Aden, a strategic location near the Red Sea. Israel has sought allies in the region amid tensions with Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who launched attacks on Israel during the Gaza war in 2023.
Somaliland’s lack of recognition has long hindered access to foreign loans and aid, leaving the territory impoverished.
A controversial deal last year between Ethiopia and Somaliland to lease coastline for a port and military base further inflamed tensions with Somalia.
Israel’s move comes as it continues efforts to expand ties in Africa and the Middle East, building on the Abraham Accords that normalised relations with countries such as the UAE and Morocco. However, ongoing conflicts in Gaza have complicated Israel’s diplomatic outreach.
