Jerusalem – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that Israel has formally recognised the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, marking a major diplomatic development in the Horn of Africa.
In a statement shared on social media, Mr Netanyahu said Israel and Somaliland had signed a joint and mutual declaration of recognition, describing the move as being “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords”, the US-brokered agreements initiated under former President Donald Trump to normalise relations between Israel and several Arab states.
“Together with Foreign Minister Sa’ar and the President of the Republic of Somaliland, we signed a joint and mutual declaration,” Mr Netanyahu said, adding that the agreement reflected shared interests in stability, peace and cooperation.
He congratulated Somaliland’s President, Dr Abdirahman Mohamed Abdallah, praising his leadership and commitment to regional stability, and invited him to make an official visit to Israel. According to the statement, the Somaliland leader welcomed the recognition and expressed appreciation for Israel’s role in combating terrorism and promoting regional peace.
Mr Netanyahu also acknowledged the role played by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, in facilitating the agreement.
The Israeli Prime Minister said Israel plans to immediately expand relations with Somaliland through cooperation in agriculture, health, technology and the economy.
If implemented, the move would make Israel one of the very few countries worldwide to officially recognise Somaliland, a self-declared state that broke away from Somalia in 1991 but has not been internationally recognised as independent. Somaliland has maintained its own government, security forces and elections for more than three decades.
There was no immediate reaction from the Federal Government of Somalia, which considers Somaliland part of its sovereign territory, nor from regional and international bodies. The announcement is likely to draw close scrutiny given the sensitive geopolitics of the Horn of Africa and the longstanding international position on Somalia’s territorial integrity.
Observers say the development could have far-reaching diplomatic and security implications in the region, particularly as global powers reassess alliances amid shifting Middle East and African geopolitics.
