Israel becomes first country to recognise Somaliland, drawing condemnation from Egypt, Turkey, and Somalia

JTA – Israel became the first country to formally recognise Somaliland, a self-declared sovereign state in the Horn of Africa, in a decision that was immediately condemned by Somalia and other nations. 

“The Prime Minister announced today the official recognition of the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state,” wrote Benjamin Netanyahu’s office in a post on X. “The State of Israel plans to immediately expand its relations with the Republic of Somaliland through extensive cooperation in the fields of agriculture, health, technology, and economy.” 

Somaliland’s president welcomed the announcement from Netanyahu in a post on X, adding that he affirmed the region’s “readiness to join the Abraham Accords,” the normalisation agreements between Israel and a handful of Arab states that was brokered during President Donald Trump’s first term. 

Somaliland proclaimed independence from Somalia in 1991 during the country’s civil war, but has failed to receive recognition from the international community in part due to Somalia’s opposition to its secession. Somalia officially rejects ties with Israel, and has consistently refused to recognise the State of Israel since 1960. Somalia and Somaliland are overwhelmingly Muslim. 

“The ministers affirmed their total rejection and condemnation of Israel’s recognition of the Somaliland region, stressing their full support for the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Somalia,” Egypt’s foreign ministry said in a statement following a phone call between Egypt’s foreign minister and his Somali, Turkish, and Djiboutian counterparts, according to Reuters. 

In November, the Israeli think tank Institute for National Security Studies argued in a report that recognising Somaliland could be in Israel’s strategic interest. 

“Somaliland’s territory could serve as a forward base for multiple missions: intelligence monitoring of the Houthis and their armament efforts; logistical support for Yemen’s legitimate government in its war against them; and a platform for direct operations against the Houthis,” the report read. 

It is unclear if the United States will follow suit. In August, Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz wrote to Trump urging him to recognise Somaliland. 

“Somaliland has emerged as a critical security and diplomatic partner for the United States, helping America advance our national security interests in the Horn of Africa and beyond,” wrote Cruz.