By Reuters
December 26, 20254:19 PM ESTUpdated 2 hours ago
Dec 26 (Reuters) – Israel became the first country to formally recognise the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state on Friday — a decision that could reshape regional dynamics and test Somalia’s longstanding opposition to secession.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would seek immediate cooperation with Somaliland in agriculture, health, technology and the economy. In a statement, he congratulated Somaliland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, praised his leadership and invited him to visit Israel.
Netanyahu said the declaration “is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, signed at the initiative of President Trump.”
The 2020 accords were brokered by Trump’s first administration and included Israel formalising diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, with other countries joining later.
Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Somaliland’s president signed a joint declaration of mutual recognition, the Israeli statement said.
Abdullahi said in a statement that Somaliland would join the Abraham Accords, calling it a step toward regional and global peace. He said Somaliland was committed to building partnerships, boosting mutual prosperity and promoting stability across the Middle East and Africa.
But Somalia’s government condemned Israel’s move as an “unlawful step” and a “deliberate attack” on its sovereignty, rejecting any recognition of Somaliland, according to a statement from the prime minister’s office.
“The federal government affirms its determination to pursue all necessary diplomatic, political, and legal measures, in accordance with international law, to defend its sovereignty, unity, and internationally recognized borders,” the statement said.
Egypt said Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held phone calls on Friday with his counterparts from Somalia, Turkey and Djibouti to discuss what they described as dangerous developments in the Horn of Africa following Israel’s announcement.
The ministers condemned Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, reaffirmed their full support for Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity, and warned that recognising breakaway regions posed a threat to international peace and security, Egypt’s foreign ministry said.
The African Union also rejected any recognition of Somaliland, reaffirming its “unwavering commitment” to Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity and warning that such moves risked undermining peace and stability across the continent, the AU Commission chair said.
Somaliland has enjoyed effective autonomy – and relative peace and stability – since 1991 when Somalia descended into civil war, but the breakaway region has failed to receive recognition from any other country.
Over the years, Somalia has rallied international actors against any country recognising Somaliland.
The former British protectorate hopes that recognition by Israel will encourage other nations to follow suit, increasing its diplomatic heft and access to international markets.
In March, Somalia and Somaliland denied receiving any proposal from the United States or Israel to resettle Palestinians from Gaza, with Mogadishu saying it categorically rejected any such move.
Reporting by Maayan Lubell and George Obulutsa; additional reporting by Abdi Sheikh in Mogadishu, Hatem Maher in Egypt and Surbhi Misra in Bengaluru; Writing by Tala Ramadan; Editing by Howard Goller and Rosalba O’Brien
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Israel recognizes Somaliland as two nations establish full diplomatic relations
Netanyahu congratulated Somaliland President H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi and praised his leadership and commitment to security, stability, and peace.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially recognized the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state(photo credit: PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE)ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD, REUTERSDECEMBER 26, 2025 16:14Updated: DECEMBER 26, 2025 18:18
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially recognized Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, the Prime Minister’s Office announced on Friday, making Israel the first nation to recognize the country.
Together with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Somaliland’s president, Netanyahu signed a joint and mutual declaration on Friday.
Netanyahu congratulated Somaliland President H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi and praised his leadership and commitment to security, stability, and peace. Unmute
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Netanyahu also invited Abdillahi to make an official visit to Israel.
Netanyahu said the declaration “is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, signed at the initiative of President Trump.”
Abdullahi said in a statement that Somaliland would join the Abraham Accords, calling it a step toward regional and global peace. He said Somaliland was committed to building partnerships, boosting mutual prosperity and promoting stability across the Middle East and Africa.
The 2020 accords were brokered by Trump’s first administration and included Israel formalizing diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, with other countries joining later.
Israel’s future talks with Somaliland under new declaration
Abdillahi thanked Netanyahu for his role in the declaration and expressed his appreciation for Israel’s efforts in combating terrorism and advancing regional peace.
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Netanyahu also expressed gratitude to Sa’ar, the Mossad, and its Director, David Barnea, for their contribution to advancing recognition between the two countries.
Netanyahu concluded by wishing the people of Somaliland success, prosperity, and freedom.
Israel will focus on collaboration in agriculture, health, technology, and the economy in its relations with Somaliland, the office stated.
Sa’ar later posted on social media, “I was glad to speak just now with the President of Somaliland Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, on this important day for both countries.
“Over the past year, based on an extensive and ongoing dialogue, relations between Israel and Somaliland have taken shape. Following the decision of @IsraeliPM Benjamin Netanyahu and the President of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi, today we signed an agreement on mutual recognition and the establishment of full diplomatic relations, which will include the appointment of ambassadors and the opening of embassies.
“We will work together to promote the relations between our countries and nations, regional stability, and economic prosperity. I have instructed my ministry to act immediately to institutionalize ties between the two countries across a wide range of fields.”
Somaliland’s foreign ministry wrote in response, “Somaliland’s moment has arrived. Momentum is building. Stay tuned for official announcements.”
Somaliland has enjoyed effective autonomy – and relative peace and stability – since 1991 when Somalia descended into civil war, but the breakaway region has failed to receive recognition from any other country.
Over the years, Somalia has rallied international actors against any country recognizing Somaliland.
The former British protectorate hopes that recognition by Israel will encourage other nations to follow suit, increasing its diplomatic heft and access to international markets.
In March, Somalia and its breakaway region of Somaliland also denied receiving any proposal from the United States or Israel to resettle Palestinians from Gaza, with Mogadishu saying it categorically rejected any such move.
Israel becomes first country to recognize breakaway Somaliland as independent state
The Times of Israel
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, Follow
26 December 2025, 6:54 pm
Composite picture. Left – Somaliland’s President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi speaks to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a photo released on December 26, 2025, by the Israel Government Press Office; Right Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signs Israel’s declaration to recognize the Republic of Somaliland as an independent state, December 26, 2025. (Amos Ben Gershom/GPO)
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.
Speaking to Abdullahi by phone, Netanyahu said the friendship between the countries was “seminal and historic.”
“We intend to work together with you on economic fields, on agriculture, in the fields of social development,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu invited Abdullahi for an official visit to Israel. Abdullahi said he will come “as soon as possible,” according to the Israel statement.”
Netanyahu’s office also released a video showing him speaking to Abdullahi by telephone.
“I want you to know that I am signing now as we speak Israel’s official recognition of the Somaliland,” Netanyahu tells Abdullahi, adding that the new relationship would offer economic opportunities.
“I am very, very happy and I am very proud of this day and I want to wish you and the people of Somaliland the very, very best,” he said.
Netanyahu said the declaration “is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, signed at the initiative of [US] President [Donald] Trump.”
The 2020 accords were brokered by Trump’s first administration and included Israel formalizing diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, with other countries, including Morocco, joining later.
The agreement with Morocco was followed by Israel recognizing Rabat’s sovereignty over the contested Western Sahara region.
Netanyahu, Sa’ar and Somaliland’s president signed a joint declaration of mutual recognition, the Israeli statement said.
Abdullahi said in a separate statement that Somaliland would join the Abraham Accords, calling it a step toward regional and global peace. He said Somaliland was committed to building partnerships, boosting mutual prosperity and promoting stability across the Middle East and Africa.
Somaliland, a Sunni Muslim country, enjoyed five days of independence in 1960, during which time it was recognized by Israel and 34 other countries before uniting with Somalia. Somaliland formally broke away in 1991 as Somalia disintegrated into anarchy.
Somaliland is located along most of Somalia’s Red Sea coastline and has effectively acted as an independent country during Somalia’s decades-long and ongoing civil war, and is in many respects a more stable and functioning state than Somalia itself, with a history of peaceful, democratic transitions of power.
For decades, Somaliland pushed for international recognition, and it was the key priority for Abdullahi since he took office last year.
Its lack of international recognition has hampered access to foreign loans, aid and investment, and the region remains deeply impoverished.
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.
In Netanyahu’s statement announcing the move, he thanked Sa’ar, Mossad Director David Barnea and the Mossad for their contribution in advancing recognition between the two countries, and “wishes the people of Somaliland success, prosperity and freedom,” said his office.
Sa’ar wrote on X that embassies will be opened in both countries and ambassadors appointed.
Israel, which has become increasingly isolated internationally during the Gaza war, has made it a priority to expand its ties in Africa. In August, Israel reopened its embassy in Zambia after more than 50 years.
While the unusual diplomatic step promises benefits for Israel, some local officials were also critical.
“All the countries of the world except for Israel see Somaliland as an integral part of Somalia. The decision to recognize Somaliland as an independent country completely undermines Israel’s argument against recognizing an independent Palestinian state,” a senior Israeli official told Channel 12 news.
The move also sparked anger among several regional powers, who said it undermined the territorial integrity of Somalia.
The foreign ministers of Somalia, Egypt, Turkey and Djibouti condemned Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, Egypt said on Friday.
“The ministers affirmed their total rejection and condemnation of Israel’s recognition of the Somaliland region, stressing their full support for the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia,” Egypt’s foreign ministry said in a statement following a phone call between Egypt’s foreign minister and his Somali, Turkish, and Djiboutian counterparts.
In an additional, separate statement, Somalia’s foreign ministry denounced Israel’s “deliberate attack” on its sovereignty by recognizing the breakaway state, warning that this would “undermine regional peace.”
“Illegitimate actions of this nature seriously undermine regional peace and stability, exacerbate political and security tensions,” the ministry said in a statement.
Later, Turkey — a key ally of Somalia — issued its own statement condemning Israel.
“This initiative by Israel, which aligns with its expansionist policy and its efforts to do everything to prevent the recognition of a Palestinian state, constitutes overt interference in Somalia’s domestic affairs,” said a Turkish foreign ministry statement.
Saudi Arabia also expressed strong opposition to the declaration. Its Foreign Ministry reaffirmed the Kingdom’s “full support for the sovereignty of the sisterly Federal Republic of Somalia and the unity and territorial integrity of its land.”
It rejected the mutual recognition between Israeli authorities and Somaliland, describing it as a “unilateral separatist” move that violates international law.
In a statement issued by African Union head Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, the AU called for African borders to be respected and said: “Any attempt to undermine the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Somalia… risks setting a dangerous precedent with far-reaching implications for peace and stability across the continent.”
The chief of the pan-African body, which counts Somalia as a member, said he “firmly rejects any initiative or action aimed at recognizing Somaliland as an independent entity” and stated that Somaliland “remains an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia.”
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Israel recognises Somaliland as independent state, Netanyahu says
Tom McArthurand
Abdirahman Ali Dhimbil
Israel has become the first country to formally recognise Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent nation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Israel intended to immediately expand cooperation in agriculture, health, and technology. Somaliland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, called the development “a historic moment”.
Recognition by Israel could encourage other nations to follow suit, increasing the region’s diplomatic credentials and access to international markets.
Somalia’s prime minister, Hamza Abdi Barre, said his country categorically and unequivocally rejected what he called a deliberate attack by Israel on its sovereignty.
Abdullahi said in a statement that Somaliland would join the Abraham Accords, in what he called a step toward regional and global peace.
Somaliland was committed to building partnerships, boosting mutual prosperity and promoting stability across the Middle East and Africa, he added.
The decision has been condemned by the foreign ministers of Somalia, Egypt, Turkey and Djibouti, who in a statement affirmed their “total rejection” of Israel’s announcement.
The two countries had agreed to establish “full diplomatic ties, which will include the appointment of ambassadors and the opening of embassies”, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said in a statement on X.
“I have instructed my ministry to act immediately to institutionalise ties between the two countries across a wide range of fields,” he said.
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Meanwhile, Egypt’s foreign minister held separate phone calls with his counterparts in Somalia, Turkey and Djibouti to discuss issues including Israel’s declaration.
In a statement, Egypt’s foreign ministry said the four countries reaffirmed their support for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and warned against unilateral steps that could undermine stability or create what they called “parallel entities” to Somalia’s state institutions.
They also argued that recognising the independence of parts of sovereign states would set a dangerous precedent under international law and the United Nations Charter.
The statement added that the ministers reiterated their rejection of any plans to displace Palestinians outside their homeland.
Israel has for years been trying to bolster relations with countries in the Middle East and Africa, but recent wars including in Gaza and against Iran have been seen as a hindrance to democracy.
Historic deals struck late in Trump’s first term in 2020, known as the Abraham Accords, saw several countries including Muslim-majority United Arab Emirates and Morocco normalise relations with Israel, with other countries joining later.
Somaliland has a strategic position on the Gulf of Aden, and has its own money, passports and police force. Born in 1991 after a war of independence against former dictator General Siad Barre, it has grappled with decades of isolation ever since.
With a population of almost six million, the self-proclaimed republic has recently been at the centre of several regional disputes involving Somalia, Ethiopia and Egypt.
Last year, an agreement between landlocked Ethiopia and Somaliland to lease a stretch of coastline for a port and military base angered Somalia.