Celebration and condemnation as Israel recognises Somaliland

Israel has become the first country to recognise Somaliland as an independent nation, in a decision met with widespread celebration in the Horn of Africa-based country, but condemnation from a number of other states in the region, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

In a video call with Somaliland’s President, Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdallah, on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “I want you to know that I am officially signing now, as we speak, Israel’s official recognition of Somaliland and its right of self-determination. Our friendship is seminal and historic. I am very happy and proud of this day, and I want to wish you and the people of Somaliland the very best – I think this will be a great opportunity for expanding our partnership; we intend to work together with you in the economic field, agriculture, and the field of social development.”

Netanyahu also used the opportunity to invite President Abdallah to come for an official visit to Israel. The Somaliland President accepted, signalling his intention to come “as soon as possible”, and praising what he described as “an historic moment”.

In a statement published by the government of Somaliland soon afterwards, the recognition was praised as “a constructive contribution to peace, stability and cooperation in the Horn of Africa, and the wider Middle East. In this context, and guided by a vision of advancing regional and global peace, the Republic of Somaliland hereby expresses its firm intention to accede to the Abraham Accords…Somaliland looks forward to engaging with the State of Israel, on the foundation of formal diplomatic relations and mutual recognition, in areas of mutual interest, including peace and security, trade and investment, development, innovation, and regional connectivity.”

Somaliland was formally granted independence by the British government in 1960, but voluntarily joined the territory formerly known as Italian Somalia a few days later, to form the Somali Republic. However, the union between the two fledgling states was soon riven by conflict, and led to a decade-long war of independence which led to Somaliland formally declaring its separate status from Somalia in 1991. It has sought international recognition for its independent status ever since.

There were widespread celebrations in Hargeisa, the capital of the Somaliland autonomous region, in the wake of the announcement. By contrast, Somalia’s prime minister, Hamza Abdi Barre, unequivocally rejected what he called a deliberate attack by Israel on its sovereignty. He claimed that Israel’s recognition of Somaliland could be part of an attempt to set up military bases in the region. While there is nothing to suggest that Israel has any intention of such action, its recognition of Somaliland may well have secured it an important regional ally against the Houthi regime’s piracy against international shipping in the Gulf of Aden, which is ostensibly aimed at Israel and its allies.

In a response to Prime Minister Barre, Khadar Hussein Abdi, a Minister in the Presidential office of Somaliland, said: “It is unfortunate that the President of Somalia continues to mislead the world. Facts matter: Israel has recognized Somaliland, a state that has not been part of Somalia for 34 years. Israel is not coming to occupy—only to cooperate. Somaliland secures itself; Somalia relies on foreign troops for protection. So who is truly dependent? We believe in cooperation, mutual interest, and respect.”

Other countries, such as Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, condemned the move, in which they criticised the “Israeli occupation authorities”, with the Saudi Foreign Ministry describing the recognition as “an action that entrenches unilateral secessionist measures that violate the international law.” Turkey described the move as an example of “its expansionist policies” and “an explicit intervention in Somalia’s internal affairs”. Minister Abdi said the statement from the Turkish Foreign Ministry “does not reflect the realities on the ground…We call on Türkiye to respect the people of Somaliland and their legitimate right to take their place among the nations of the world.”