Israel became the first country to formally recognise Somaliland as an independent state on Friday, drawing strong condemnation from Somalia and regional and international organisations.
Somalia’s federal government described the decision as "unlawful" and a "deliberate attack" on the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
It said Somaliland remained "an integral, inseparable and inalienable part of Somalia" and pledged to pursue diplomatic, political and legal measures to defend its internationally recognised borders.
The Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council also criticised the move.
Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit called the recognition "a clear violation of international law" and an infringement of the principle of state sovereignty.
Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Jasem Albudaiwi warned it could destabilise the Horn of Africa, describing the decision as a grave breach of Somalia’s sovereignty.
The African Union reaffirmed its commitment to Somalia’s territorial integrity, cautioning that recognising breakaway regions risked undermining peace and stability across the continent.
Announcing the decision, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would pursue immediate cooperation with Somaliland in agriculture, health, technology and the economy.
He congratulated Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi on his leadership and invited him to visit Israel.
Netanyahu said the recognition was "in the spirit of the Abraham Accords", signed during Donald Trump’s first administration, which normalised Israel’s relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
An Israeli statement said Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Abdullahi signed a joint declaration of mutual recognition.
Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi welcomed Israel’s decision, saying it opened the door to cooperation in sectors including agriculture, health and technology.
Somaliland, a self-declared republic in northern Somalia, has operated with de facto autonomy since declaring independence in 1991 but has not previously received international recognition. Somalia’s federal government considers the region an integral part of its territory.
The ongoing conflict involving Iran is set to disrupt global travel on a massive scale, with nearly 28 million outbound trips from the Middle East ...
China is strengthening its presence in Central Asia by increasing gas imports from Turkmenistan and expanding trade and infrastructure cooperation ...
Transport groups across the Philippines launched a nationwide strike on Thursday in protest against rising oil prices. The action affected 15 to 20...
Russia has once again signalled its willingness to restore relations with Georgia, with a senior official claiming...
Türkiye’s ambassador to the United Nations, Ahmet Yildiz, has called for Syria to be shielded from the effects of the ongoing regional w...
The ongoing conflict involving Iran is set to disrupt global travel on a massive scale, with nearly 28 million outbound trips from the Middle East at risk this year, according to Oxford Economics.
Transport groups across the Philippines launched a nationwide strike on Thursday in protest against rising oil prices. The action affected 15 to 20 protest centres in Metro Manila, with similar demonstrations taking place across several major provinces.
Türkiye’s ambassador to the United Nations, Ahmet Yildiz, has called for Syria to be shielded from the effects of the ongoing regional war, warning that instability could threaten the country’s recovery.
European Union leaders are meeting in Brussels on 19–20 March for a high-stakes summit shaped largely by external geopolitical shocks, with surging energy prices and a stalled €90 billion loan to Ukraine emerging as the dominant issues.
Morocco has been declared winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and Senegal stripped of their title by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
One person has died after a cable car cabin at the Titlis ski resort in central Switzerland plunged down a snow-covered mountainside on Wednesday (18 March) amid strong winds.
Iranian President Pezeshkian has confirmed the killing of intelligence minister Esmail Khatib calling it a "cowardly assassination", following reports that Israel carried out an overnight strike.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Israel struck Iran’s South Pars gas field without U.S. or Qatari involvement, and warned that any Iranian attack on Qatar would prompt massive retaliation. The comments come as regional tensions soar after Tehran fired missiles at Gulf energy sites.
When a NATO-led coalition helped to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi’s dictatorship in Libya in 2011, it looked like the sun had risen on a new era. But within years, the nation was gripped by a second civil war, declining living standards and collapsing institutions. Could Iran follow suit?
Transport groups across the Philippines launched a nationwide strike on Thursday in protest against rising oil prices. The action affected 15 to 20 protest centres in Metro Manila, with similar demonstrations taking place across several major provinces.
European Union leaders are meeting in Brussels on 19–20 March for a high-stakes summit shaped largely by external geopolitical shocks, with surging energy prices and a stalled €90 billion loan to Ukraine emerging as the dominant issues.
Heavy social media usage appears to contribute to a drop in wellbeing among young people, especially girls, in some English-speaking countries, the World Happiness Report found.
Anutin Charnvirakul has returned to power after winning a fresh mandate on Thursday following a Parliamentary vote in a country plagued by political drama and turmoil.
Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves ordered the closure of the country’s embassy in Havana on Wednesday (18 March), saying he didn’t recognise Cuba’s government.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment