Israel becomes first country to recognise Somaliland drawing criticism

Israel on Friday became the first country to formally recognise Somaliland as an independent state, a move that has been condemned by Somalia, the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and the African Union (AU).

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel would pursue immediate cooperation with Somaliland in agriculture, health, technology, and the economy. He congratulated Somaliland’s President, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, praised his leadership, and invited him to visit Israel. Netanyahu said the recognition “is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords,” signed during President Trump’s first administration, which also formalised Israel’s diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. According to an Israeli statement, Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, and Abdullahi signed a joint declaration of mutual recognition.

Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi welcomed Israel’s recognition, highlighting potential cooperation in sectors including agriculture, health, technology, and the economy. 

Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit described Israel’s recognition as “a clear violation of international law and a flagrant infringement of the principle of the unity and sovereignty of states.” GCC Secretary General Jasem Albudaiwi similarly called it “a grave violation of the principles of international law and a blatant infringement of Somalia’s sovereignty,” warning it could destabilise the Horn of Africa.

The Somali government condemned the recognition as “unlawful” and a “deliberate attack on the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” pledging to pursue all diplomatic, political, and legal measures to protect its internationally recognised borders. Authorities emphasised that Somaliland is “an integral, inseparable, and inalienable part of Somalia.”

The African Union reaffirmed its commitment to Somalia’s territorial integrity, warning that recognising breakaway regions risks undermining peace and stability across the continent.

Somaliland, a self-declared republic in northern Somalia, has operated with de facto autonomy since declaring independence in 1991 but has not received international recognition. Somalia’s federal government considers the region an integral part of its territory.

Copied