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Somaliland proclaimed its separation from Somalia in 1991 and has been seeking international acknowledgment for many years.
Somalia and the African Union expressed strong disapproval on Friday after Israel became the first nation to officially acknowledge the northern territory of Somaliland as a distinct country.
A man is pictured holding the flag of Somaliland in front of the Hargeisa War Memorial monument in Hargeisa on November 7, 2024. The president of Somaliland, on December 26, 2025, welcomed Israel’s declaration of recognizing its statehood, stating that this decision signaled the commencement of a «strategic partnership.» (AFP)
Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991 and has been actively pursuing international recognition for decades, with President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi making this a primary objective since assuming office last year.
Israel announced on Friday that it considered Somaliland an «independent and sovereign state,» leading Somalia to label the decision a «deliberate attack» on its sovereignty that would jeopardize regional peace.
Several other nations also denounced Israel’s action. The African Union (AU) rejected the move and cautioned that it risked «setting a dangerous precedent with far-reaching implications for peace and stability across the continent.»
The pan-African body’s head, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, asserted that Somaliland «remains an integral part» of Somalia, a member of the AU.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the decision was «in the spirit of the Abraham Accords,» referencing a series of agreements facilitated by former US President Donald Trump during his first term that normalized relations between Israel and several Arab countries.
Netanyahu had extended an invitation to Abdullahi for a visit, according to the Israeli leader’s office.
When questioned by the New York Post newspaper about whether the United States intended to also recognize Somaliland, Trump responded negatively.
He further inquired, «Does anyone know what Somaliland is, really?»
Hailing Israel’s decision as a «historic moment,» Abdullahi declared on X that it marked the beginning of a «strategic partnership.»
The Palestinian Authority voiced its rejection of Israel’s recognition of Somaliland.
It stated on X that Israel had previously designated Somaliland «as a destination for the forced displacement of our Palestinian people, particularly from the Gaza Strip,» and warned against «complicity» in such a measure.
In Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, large crowds gathered in the streets to celebrate, with many waving the flag of the breakaway region, according to sources.
Turkey, a close ally of Somalia, also condemned the action.
A foreign ministry statement declared, «This initiative by Israel, which aligns with its expansionist policy… constitutes overt interference in Somalia’s domestic affairs.»
Egypt reported that its top diplomat had engaged in discussions with counterparts from Turkey, Somalia, and Djibouti, who collectively condemned the move and affirmed «full support for the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia.
