Israel has formally recognised self-proclaimed republic of Somaliland as a sovereign and independent state, a decision which may alter the dynamics of the region and test Somalia’s long-standing resistance to secession.
Prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that Israel would want to immediately cooperate with Somaliland in agriculture, health, technology and the economy. In his announcement, Netanyahu congratulated Somaliland president Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, complimenting his leadership and asked him to visit Israel.
Netanyahu claimed the declaration was in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, which was signed under the initiative of President Trump. The 2020 accord was facilitated by the first administration of the U.S. President Donald Trump and comprised the formalisation of diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain, followed by other states.
Israel’s premier Netanyahu, foreign minister Gideon Saar, and the president of Somaliland signed an agreement of mutual recognition between the countries. In a statement, Somaliland president Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, said that Somaliland had become a member of the Abraham Accords by declaring it a move to regional and global peace. He stated that Somaliland was determined to establish partnerships, enhance mutual prosperity and stability throughout the Middle East and Africa.
The government of Somalia through its prime minister’s office criticised Israel via a statement, terming this move as an illegally undertaken step and an act of intentional assault on its sovereignty, denying that Somaliland was a state.
According to the statement, the federal government insisted that it would do everything in pursuit of diplomatic, political, and legal actions in line with international law to protect its sovereignty, unity, and internationally recognized borders. In an X post, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, said that recognition of the land by Netanyahu was an act of illegal aggression and against the normal legal and diplomatic practices.
The European Union also demanded that people should respect the unity of Somalia and that there should be meaningful dialogue between Mogadishu and Somaliland in order to settle old scores.
