“A historic moment”: Israel becomes the first state to officially recognize Somaliland

This is a first for this self-proclaimed republic of East Africa. Israel announced on Friday that it officially recognized Somaliland, which seceded from Somalia and had not yet been recognized by any country.

This territory the size of Uruguay (175,000 km²), located at the north-western tip of Somalia, is now considered “an independent and sovereign state”, according to a press release from the services of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A “joint and mutual” declaration was signed to this effect by the two countries.

The president of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known as “Irro”, immediately welcomed “a historic moment”. “This step marks the beginning of a strategic partnership that promotes mutual interests, strengthens regional peace and security and brings shared benefits to all stakeholders, without prejudice to any of them,” he reacted on X.

Several countries condemned the Israeli decision, starting with Somalia, denouncing an “attack on its sovereignty” on the part of the Jewish state, which “exacerbates tensions” throughout the region.

Egypt and Turkey, Somalia’s close ally, also reacted. “This initiative by Israel, which continues its expansionist policy and does everything possible to prevent the recognition of a Palestinian state, constitutes a clear interference in the internal affairs of Somalia,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry wrote in a statement.

Declared independent since 1991

Somaliland unilaterally declared independence in 1991, as the Republic of Somalia descended into chaos following the fall of the military regime of autocrat Siad Barre.

It has since operated autonomously, with its own currency, army and police, and is distinguished by its relative stability compared to Somalia, undermined by the Islamist Shebab insurgency and chronic political conflicts.

But until now it had not been publicly recognized by any country, which keeps it in a certain political and economic isolation despite its location at the entrance to the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, on one of the busiest trade routes in the world linking the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal.

The region is plagued by economic difficulties (inflation, unemployment, poverty, etc.) but also by conflicts in the east, where the government has lost control of the Sool region.

“In the Spirit” of the Abraham Accords

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Friday that the two countries would establish “full diplomatic relations, with the appointment of ambassadors and the opening of embassies.” And the president of Somaliland was invited to Israel, according to the services of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

For Israel, this initiative is “in the spirit” of the Abraham Accords, which made it possible to normalize Israel’s relations with several Arab countries, including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco, according to the same source.