Israel has formally recognized Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, becoming the first United Nations member country to do so, the Prime Minister’s Office announced on Friday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed a joint declaration of mutual recognition alongside Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi, marking the establishment of full diplomatic relations between the two sides.
Netanyahu congratulated Abdillahi on the move, praising his leadership and commitment to security, stability, and peace. He also invited the Somaliland president to make an official visit to Israel, describing the declaration as being “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords,” which were signed during the first administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
In a statement, Abdillahi said Somaliland would join the Abraham Accords, calling the step a contribution to regional and global peace. He said Somaliland is committed to building international partnerships, expanding mutual prosperity, and promoting stability across the Middle East and Africa.
The Abraham Accords, brokered in 2020, led to Israel formalizing diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, with additional countries joining later.
Under the new declaration, Israel said it would prioritize cooperation with Somaliland in agriculture, health, technology, and economic development.
Netanyahu thanked Sa’ar, the Mossad, and its director, David Barnea, for their role in advancing recognition between the two countries, and concluded by wishing the people of Somaliland success, prosperity, and freedom.
Sa’ar later confirmed the agreement in a social media post, saying the two sides had signed an accord on mutual recognition and the establishment of full diplomatic relations, including the appointment of ambassadors and the opening of embassies. He added that Israel’s Foreign Ministry had been instructed to immediately begin institutionalizing ties across a wide range of sectors.
Somaliland’s foreign ministry responded by saying, “Somaliland’s moment has arrived. Momentum is building. Stay tuned for official announcements.”
Somaliland has maintained de facto autonomy and relative stability since 1991, when Somalia collapsed into civil war. Despite its functioning institutions and sustained peace, the former British protectorate has not previously received formal recognition from any country.
Somalia has long opposed international recognition of Somaliland and has lobbied foreign governments against such moves. Somaliland officials hope Israel’s decision will encourage other nations to follow suit, boosting the region’s diplomatic standing and access to international markets.
In March, both Somalia and Somaliland denied reports that the United States or Israel had proposed resettling Palestinians from Gaza in the region, with Somalia’s government saying it categorically rejected any such proposal. Photo by Drieakko at English Wikipedia.