Israel has become the first country to officially recognize the Republic of Somaliland, located in eastern Africa, as an independent and sovereign state. Reuters noted that this decision may reshape the regional landscape and test Somalia’s long-standing stance against separatism.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement on Friday, December 26, stating that Israel will seek to immediately launch cooperation with Somaliland in agriculture, health care, science and technology, and economic sectors. He also praised the leadership of Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdullahi and invited him to visit Israel.

Netanyahu said that recognizing the Republic of Somaliland is in line with the spirit of the Abraham Accords, which were initiated and signed under the auspices of former U.S. President Donald Trump. The accords aim to promote the normalization of relations between Israel and Arab countries.

President Abdullahi released a statement saying that Somaliland will join the Abraham Accords, describing it as a step toward regional and global peace. He also stated that Somaliland is committed to building partnerships in the Middle East and Africa to promote common prosperity and stability.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in the 1990s and has its own military, currency and passports, but it has not been recognized by the international community. Somaliland hopes that Israel’s move will encourage other countries to recognize its independence, thereby expanding its diplomatic space and access to international markets.

Trump: U.S. Will Not Recognize Somaliland as Independent State

However, in an interview with the New York Post on Friday, Trump said he would not follow Israel’s lead in recognizing Somaliland as an independent state. Regarding Somaliland’s proposal to allocate land near the entrance to the Red Sea for the U.S. to establish a military port, Trump also responded coldly, saying, “It’s no big deal... We’ll look into it. I’ve looked into many things and always make the right decision.”

The Somali government condemned Israel’s move as an “illegal act”, a “deliberate attack” on its sovereignty, which seriously undermines regional peace and stability and escalates political and security tensions. The Somali government also made it clear that it will never allow the establishment of foreign military bases on its territory.

Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that its Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held telephone talks with his counterparts from Somalia, Turkey and Djibouti to discuss what they regarded as “dangerous developments in the situation in the Horn of Africa”. The four countries condemned Israel and warned that recognizing a self-proclaimed independent region would pose a threat to international peace and security.

Turkey, a close ally of Somalia, criticized Israel for interfering in Somalia’s internal affairs. The African Union also firmly opposed Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, stating that any attempt to undermine Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity violates the fundamental principles of the African Union and may set a “dangerous precedent” with serious implications for peace and stability across the African continent.

Israel has become the first country to officially recognize the Republic of Somaliland, located in eastern Africa, as an independent and sovereign state. Reuters noted that this decision may reshape the regional landscape and test Somalia’s long-standing stance against separatism.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement on Friday, December 26, stating that Israel will seek to immediately launch cooperation with Somaliland in agriculture, health care, science and technology, and economic sectors. He also praised the leadership of Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdullahi and invited him to visit Israel.

Netanyahu said that recognizing the Republic of Somaliland is in line with the spirit of the Abraham Accords, which were initiated and signed under the auspices of former U.S. President Donald Trump. The accords aim to promote the normalization of relations between Israel and Arab countries.

President Abdullahi released a statement saying that Somaliland will join the Abraham Accords, describing it as a step toward regional and global peace. He also stated that Somaliland is committed to building partnerships in the Middle East and Africa to promote common prosperity and stability.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in the 1990s and has its own military, currency and passports, but it has not been recognized by the international community. Somaliland hopes that Israel’s move will encourage other countries to recognize its independence, thereby expanding its diplomatic space and access to international markets.

Trump: U.S. Will Not Recognize Somaliland as Independent State

However, in an interview with the New York Post on Friday, Trump said he would not follow Israel’s lead in recognizing Somaliland as an independent state. Regarding Somaliland’s proposal to allocate land near the entrance to the Red Sea for the U.S. to establish a military port, Trump also responded coldly, saying, “It’s no big deal... We’ll look into it. I’ve looked into many things and always make the right decision.”

The Somali government condemned Israel’s move as an “illegal act”, a “deliberate attack” on its sovereignty, which seriously undermines regional peace and stability and escalates political and security tensions. The Somali government also made it clear that it will never allow the establishment of foreign military bases on its territory.

Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that its Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held telephone talks with his counterparts from Somalia, Turkey and Djibouti to discuss what they regarded as “dangerous developments in the situation in the Horn of Africa”. The four countries condemned Israel and warned that recognizing a self-proclaimed independent region would pose a threat to international peace and security.

Turkey, a close ally of Somalia, criticized Israel for interfering in Somalia’s internal affairs. The African Union also firmly opposed Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, stating that any attempt to undermine Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity violates the fundamental principles of the African Union and may set a “dangerous precedent” with serious implications for peace and stability across the African continent.