Israel becomes first country to recognize breakaway Somaliland as independent state
President says his country wants to join Abraham Accords; move sparks anger among regional powers who say it undermines sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia
By Lazar Berman,
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Times of Israel Staff and Agencies 26 December 2025, 6:54 pm
Israel on Friday became the first country to recognize the Republic of Somaliland as an independent state, more than three decades after the African region broke away from Somalia, with the Muslim nation saying it aspired to join the Abraham Accords.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar signed the declaration for Israel, while Somaliland’s President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi signed for his country, which sits in a key strategic region in the Horn of Africa.
While no other countries have formally recognized it, several states — including the UK, Ethiopia, Turkey, the UAE, Denmark, Kenya and Taiwan — maintained liaison offices, and the Trump administration has signaled in recent months that it could change its stance on the breakaway region. However, the Friday announcement sparked anger among several regional powers who accused Israel of undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia.
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Channel 12 reported that Abdullahi made a secret visit to Israel in October, meeting with Netanyahu, Mossad chief David Barnea and Defense Minister Israel Katz.
The network said that ties between the two governments emerged as Israel searched for countries willing to take in Gazans it was looking to move out of the Strip during the war — an effort that seems to have failed due to overwhelming international backlash against the idea of displacing Gazans.
Beyond a potential home for Gazans, a central Israeli motivation for deepening ties with Somaliland’s is the latter region’s proximity to Yemen. Access to Somaliland’s territory and airspace would make it easier for Israel to conduct strikes and surveil the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Israel becomes first country to recognize breakaway Somaliland as independent state | The Times of Israel
Somaliland recognition for forced transfer of Palestinians? ‘Not worth it’
Locals and analysts say reported Israeli plan to forcibly move Palestinians from Gaza to Somaliland risks inflaming the region.
Somaliland recognition for forced transfer of Palestinians? ‘Not worth it’ | Israel-Palestine conflict News | Al Jazeera
Israel had been negotiating with Somaliland since mid-year to accept the transfer of ethnically cleansed Palestinians from Gaza. Placing them into the middle of another country ruled by militias in a country where the public resents the forced migration of peoples is no better than being in the occupied territories where they're targeted by Israelis and the IDF. For Israel, they think they get to revoke the right of return for Palestinians to their homeland. |
