Israeli and Somaliland flags

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (Eye Radio) — Israel has become the first country to formally recognize the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state.

According to Reuters, the announcement, made on Friday, December 26, by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, marks a major turning point for the breakaway region, which has functioned as a self-governing entity since 1991 without international recognition.

Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed that Israel will pursue immediate partnerships with Somaliland in the fields of agriculture, technology, health, and the economy.

He stated that this declaration is in the spirit of the 2020 Abraham Accords, which normalized ties between Israel and several Arab nations.

In response, Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi welcomed the move and confirmed that his nation will officially join the Accords to foster regional stability.

The decision has sparked immediate and fierce condemnation from the federal government of Somalia, which denounced the move as an unlawful attack on its sovereignty.

Authorities in Mogadishu have vowed to take all necessary diplomatic and legal measures to defend their internationally recognized borders.

This sentiment was echoed by the African Union, which reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to Somalia’s territorial integrity and warned that such recognition risks undermining peace across the continent.

Regional tensions have escalated further as Egypt’s Foreign Ministry reported urgent consultations with counterparts in Turkey and Djibouti.

These nations have collectively warned that the recognition of breakaway regions poses a significant threat to international peace and security.

Despite this backlash, Somaliland leaders hope that Israel’s endorsement will catalyze for other nations to follow suit, finally granting the former British protectorate the diplomatic legitimacy and market access it has sought for over three decades.