In a groundbreaking diplomatic development, the State of Israel has formally extended recognition to the breakaway territory of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign nation. This decision, announced on Friday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, marks the first instance of any country granting full sovereign recognition to the region since it declared independence in 1991.
The formal recognition was cemented through a mutual declaration signed by Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, and Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi. The signing ceremony was conducted via video conference, with Netanyahu characterizing the agreement as both ‘seminal and historic’ in nature.
Somaliland, which initially united with the Somali republic in 1960, has operated as a de facto independent state for over three decades following its declaration of independence during Somalia’s civil conflict. Despite maintaining unofficial diplomatic channels with several nations, the territory had previously failed to gain recognition from any permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s office indicated that this diplomatic breakthrough aligns with the spirit of the Abraham Accords, the normalization agreements established between Israel and several Arab states in 2020. Netanyahu specifically referenced former U.S. President Donald Trump during the announcement, expressing intentions to communicate Somaliland’s ‘willingness and desire’ to join the Accords framework.
Both leaders expressed commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors including economic development, agricultural innovation, and social advancement. President Abdullahi accepted Netanyahu’s invitation for an official visit to Jerusalem, stating he would ‘be glad to be in Jerusalem as soon as possible’ to further solidify the new diplomatic relationship.