Israel recognizes Somaliland as a sovereign state

TT

Updated 20.19 | Published 16.42

 

Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi votes in the 2024 election, when he was a presidential candidate. Photo: Abdirahman Aleeli/AP/TT

Israel has formally recognized Somaliland as an “independent and sovereign state”. The countries will establish diplomatic relations, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced.

Israel will thus become the first country to recognize Somaliland. “The declaration is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords,” the statement said, referring to several agreements between Israel and Arab nations brokered by the United States.

Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi hailed Israel’s announcement, calling it a “historic moment”.

Turkey, a close ally of Somalia, condemned the recognition of Somaliland. So do Somalia, Egypt and Djibouti.

The four countries' foreign ministers jointly reject "any unilateral actions that endanger Somalia's sovereignty or undermine the stability of the country," the Egyptian Foreign Ministry writes.

Somaliland in northwestern Somalia, with a strategic position on the Gulf of Aden, declared itself an independent republic in 1991. The secession has never been recognized by the outside world.