Israel becomes first country to formally recognise Somaliland as independent state

Israel became the first country to formally recognise the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state on Friday — a decision that could reshape regional dynamics and test Somalia’s longstanding opposition to secession. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would seek immediate co-operation with Somaliland in agriculture, health, technology and the economy. In a statement, he congratulated Somaliland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, praised his leadership and invited him to visit Israel.

Netanyahu said the declaration “is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, signed at the initiative of President Trump.” Netanyahu, foreign minister Gideon Saar and Somaliland’s president signed a joint declaration of mutual recognition, the Israeli statement said. But Somalia’s government condemned Israel’s move as an “unlawful step” and a “deliberate attack” on its sovereignty, rejecting any recognition of Somaliland, according to a statement from the prime minister’s office. “The federal government affirms its determination to pursue all necessary diplomatic, political, and legal measures, in accordance with international law, to defend its sovereignty, unity and internationally recognised borders,” the statement said.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in an X post said that Netanyahu’s recognition of the territory was “illegal aggression” and “contrary to established legal and diplomatic rules”. The EU also urged respect for Somalia’s unity and called for “meaningful dialogue” between Mogadishu and Somaliland to resolve longstanding differences. Egypt said foreign minister Badr Abdelatty held phone calls on Friday with his counterparts from Somalia, Turkey and Djibouti to discuss what they described as dangerous developments in the Horn of Africa after Israel’s announcement. The ministers condemned Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, reaffirmed their full support for Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity, and warned that recognising breakaway regions posed a threat to international peace and security, Egypt’s foreign ministry said.