Somalia and the African Union reacted sharply on Friday after Israel became the first nation to formally recognise Somaliland as an independent state, escalating tensions across the Horn of Africa and beyond.
Somaliland has operated as a self-declared republic since 1991, when it broke away from Somalia following years of civil unrest. Despite having its own institutions, currency and security forces, it has never received international recognition — though its current president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, has made that quest central to his leadership.
Israel’s announcement that it considers Somaliland “an independent and sovereign state” drew an immediate rebuke from Somalia, which labelled the move a “deliberate attack” on its sovereignty and warned it could destabilise the wider region.
The African Union also condemned the decision, cautioning that it risked setting “a dangerous precedent” for the continent. AU head Mahamoud Ali Youssouf reiterated that Somaliland remains “an integral part” of Somalia.
Israel’s government linked the decision to the spirit of the Abraham Accords — agreements that normalised relations between Israel and several Arab states. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also extended an invitation to Somaliland’s president.
However, former US President Donald Trump dismissed the idea that the United States would follow suit, bluntly asking whether anyone “really” knew what Somaliland was.
President Abdullahi described Israel’s move as a “historic moment” and the start of a strategic partnership. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority condemned the recognition, warning against what it described as complicity in forced displacement involving Palestinians.
In Somaliland’s capital Hargeisa, residents reportedly took to the streets in celebration, waving flags of the breakaway republic.
Turkey — a key Somali ally — joined Egypt, Djibouti and others in rejecting Israel’s move, accusing it of interfering in Somalia’s internal affairs. Leaders across the region reaffirmed support for Somalia’s territorial unity.
Strategically positioned along the Gulf of Aden, Somaliland has long argued that recognition would unlock investment, loans and development. But its disputed status has kept it isolated, even as regional powers eye its coastline and security relevance — particularly around Red Sea and Yemen-related tensions.
A 2024 agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland granting Ethiopia port and military access further angered Somalia and added to geopolitical frictions.
Israel’s outreach comes as part of its broader attempt to deepen alliances in Africa and the Middle East. But ongoing conflicts and humanitarian crises — especially in Gaza — have made such diplomatic moves increasingly sensitive.
For Somaliland, Israel’s recognition brings celebration and hope. For Somalia, it represents an existential challenge to sovereignty. And for Africa, it raises tough questions about borders, legitimacy and the future of recognition politics.
