Daijiworld Media Network - Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Dec 27: Israel on Friday formally recognised Somaliland as an “independent and sovereign state” and signed an agreement to establish diplomatic relations, marking the first-ever official international recognition for the self-declared republic.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the decision, saying Israel had officially recognised the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state. His office said the declaration was in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, referring to the agreements brokered by former US President Donald Trump during his first term to normalise ties between Israel and several Arab countries.
Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi welcomed the move, calling it a historic moment and the beginning of a “strategic partnership”. In a post on X, he said Somaliland was ready to join the Abraham Accords and normalise relations with Israel.
Later, Netanyahu’s office released a video showing the Prime Minister speaking to Abdullahi over the phone, during which he said the new relationship would open economic opportunities and strengthen cooperation. Netanyahu also said he would convey Abdullahi’s willingness to join the Abraham Accords to Trump.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the two sides had agreed to establish full diplomatic ties, including the appointment of ambassadors and the opening of embassies. He added that his ministry had been instructed to immediately institutionalise relations across a wide range of fields.
Netanyahu’s office said the Somaliland president had been invited to visit Israel and had thanked the Prime Minister for what he described as a historic declaration.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has since maintained its own currency, passports and armed forces. However, decades of isolation and lack of international recognition have severely limited access to foreign aid, loans and investment, leaving the region impoverished.
Israel has been seeking to strengthen ties with countries in the Middle East and Africa. While several nations normalised relations with Israel in 2020 under the Abraham Accords, recent conflicts, particularly the war in Gaza, have slowed further diplomatic progress.