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Israel–Somaliland relations

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Israel–Somaliland relations
Map indicating locations of Somaliland and Israel

Somaliland
Israel

On 26 December 2025, Israel became the first United Nations member state to officially recognise Somaliland as an independent sovereign state.[1][2] Somaliland regards itself as the legal successor of the State of Somaliland, whose five-day independence in 1960 was also recognised by Israel and 34 other countries. The entirety of modern Somaliland's territory is claimed but not controlled by Somalia, which does not recognise Israel as an independent sovereign state.

History

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Background

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See also: Somali Republic § Unification

Israel was one of 35 countries that recognised the State of Somaliland's brief five-day independence in 1960.[3]

Somaliland War of Independence

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See also: Somaliland War of Independence

In 1995, then President of Somaliland, Ibrahim Egal, wrote a letter to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin seeking to establish diplomatic ties between the two countries.[4][5] Egal spoke of the need to jointly counter Islamism in the region.[6] According to Abdirahman Tuur, the first president of Somaliland, Egal had sought to form a relationship with Israel in hopes of gaining recognition from the United States.[7] In February 2010, Yigal Palmor, former spokesman for Israel's Foreign Ministry and then head of International Affairs at the Jewish Agency, referenced Egal's warning about rising Islamic fundamentalism and the strategic importance of Bab al-Mandab to the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, and noted that both Somaliland and Israel were politically isolated.[8] That same month Palmor was quoted in the Haaretz Daily that his government was ready to recognise Somaliland again.[1][5] Although, he stated that the Somaliland government has not contacted the Israeli government to seek ties.[1]

In February 2001, it was also reported Somaliland was looking towards Israel after Saudi Arabia banned imports of livestock from the country due to Rift Valley fever.[9] During this time several Israeli businessmen were also in the nation's capital Hargeisa.[9] However, President Kahin who succeeded Egal is reported to have avoided approaching Israel to prevent straining fragile relations with the Arabs and Muslim world, which it heavily relies on for its livestock trade.[5]

In August 2020, Somaliland expressed its support for the Israel–United Arab Emirates normalisation agreement.[10] Africa Intelligence observed that in February 2022 the Israelis had dispatched several teams to inspect runways built by the Soviet Union in Somaliland.[11]

Relations during the Gaza War

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See also: Gaza War and 2025 Donald Trump Gaza Strip takeover proposal

According to Israeli intelligence officials, Mossad spent years cultivating discreet, high-level relationships in Somaliland to pave the way for diplomatic recognition.[12]

In March 2025, it was reported that Israel and the United States had approached Somaliland (along with Puntland and Sudan), proposing the countries take in refugees from the Gaza Strip, amid the Gaza war.[13][14] Multiple analysts from various groups in Somaliland have stated that the Somaliland government accepting the transfer of Palestinians would likely cause severe discontent and political violence.[15][16][17] Both Puntland and Somaliland denied receiving any proposal from Israel or the United States to resettle Gazans.[17][18] Jethro Norman at the Danish Institute for International Studies told Al Jazeera that government acceptance would likely give a significant rhetorical victory to Al-Shabab and ISIS as they already frame their insurgencies as legitimate rebellion against "Crusader–Zionist" Western schemes.[19]

Amid the reports of Somaliland being approached by the Israeli government and the United States government, Somaliland's foreign minister told KAN, Israel's public broadcaster, in a written statement, "We are open to discussion on any matter, but we do not want to speculate on matters that have not yet been discussed. All countries that are interested in discussing certain issues with us must first establish working relations with us and open diplomatic missions in Somaliland."[20][21]

Recognition of Somaliland received the backing of prominent Republican Party politicians in the United States due to potential engagement with Israel, with the Israeli government indicating that negotiations with Somaliland were ongoing in September.[22]

Recognition

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In October 2025, Daily News Egypt reported that the United States, United Kingdom, Israel, United Arab Emirates, and an undisclosed list of 17 other countries were considering recognising Somaliland in the coming months.[23] On 26 December 2025, Israel became the first UN member state to formally recognise the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, after the two countries signed a mutual declaration "in the spirit of the Abraham Accords".[24][25] Somaliland thanked Israel and expressed appreciation for its efforts in combating terrorism and promoting regional peace. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi to Israel for a state visit, and expressed his willingness to immediately expand economic ties.[18][26]

The recognition was condemned by the foreign ministers of Somalia, Djibouti, Egypt, and Turkey.[26][27] The chairman of the African Union Commission, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, issued a statement rejecting Israel's recognition of Somaliland and reaffirmed the African Union's unwavering commitment to the unity and sovereignty of Somalia.[28] The Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit rejected the Israeli move to recognise Somaliland, calling it "a clear violation of international law and a flagrant infringement of the principle of the unity and sovereignty of states".[29] Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, affirmed that the recognition constitutes a dangerous precedent that threatens stability in the Horn of Africa and fuels further tensions, while underscoring the GCC Ministerial Council’s 164th session final statement reaffirming member states’ full support for the Federal Republic of Somalia’s security, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.[30]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Israel ready to recognize Somaliland". defenceWeb. 15 February 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  2. ^ Eichner, Itamar (26 December 2025). "Before addressing attack: Netanyahu announces official recognition of Republic of Somaliland". Ynetglobal. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  3. ^ Bereketeab, Redie (2012). Self-determination and Secessionism in Somaliland and South Sudan: Challenges to Postcolonial State-building. Nordiska Afrikainstitutet. ISBN 978-91-7106-725-8.
  4. ^ "SOMALILAND: EGAL WRITES TO RABIN – 02/12/1995 – The Indian Ocean Newsletter". Africa Intelligence. 2 December 1995. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  5. ^ a b c "Somaliland: Israel says ready to recognize Somaliland". UNPO. 12 February 2010. Archived from the original on 8 May 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2012. It is no secret to Somaliland though, the former president, Mr Ibrahim Haji Egal addressed the very issue in a letter to the former Israeli head of state, Mr Yitshak Rabin in 1995. Fifteen years ago, Mr Egal saw the threat of Islamic fundamentalism and the importance of Bab El-Mandeb.
  6. ^ Banks, Arthur S.; Day, Alan J.; Muller, Thomas C. (1 February 2016). Political Handbook of the World 1998. Springer. p. 839. ISBN 978-1-349-14951-3.
  7. ^ Taha, Assaad (21 November 2023). نقطة ساخنة| خراب "السبع العجاف" .. أسعد طه يبحث عمن يقف وراء الحرب والدمار في الصومال؟ (Video) (in Arabic). Al-Jazeera. Retrieved 24 June 2025 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ Mohamed, Abdifatah Hassan (5 February 2025). "Israel and Somaliland: Assessing Possible Cooperation in the Horn of Africa". Times of Israel. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Somaliland 'here to stay'". BBC. 5 February 2001. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Somaliland Joins World In Hailing Israel And UAE Diplomatic Deal". busiweek.com. 14 August 2020. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020.
  11. ^ "HORN OF AFRICA: Having established links with Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi, Hargeisa lobbies Washington for recognition – 25/02/2022". Africa Intelligence. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2025. ...the Somaliland head of state has routinely highlighted his good relations with the United Arab Emirates (which is digging a deep-water port in Berbera) as well as with Israel (which has sent several teams to the country to inspect the Soviet-built runways, which are among the longest in Africa).
  12. ^ Eichner, Itamar; Eichner, Itamar (26 December 2025). "Behind Israel's recognition of Somaliland: years of quiet Mossad involvement". Ynetglobal. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  13. ^ "US, Israel want to displace Palestinians from Gaza to East Africa: Report". Al Jazeera. 14 March 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  14. ^ Federman, Josef; Lee, Matthew; Magdy, Samy (14 March 2025). "AP Exclusive: US and Israel look to Africa for moving Palestinians uprooted from Gaza". AP News. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  15. ^ Albordeny, Ahmed (21 September 2025). "Israel eyes 'alternative homeland' for Palestinians; Egypt says no". Manassa. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  16. ^ Caato, Bashir Mohamed (21 August 2025). "Somaliland risks tensions with plan to accept displaced Palestinians from Gaza". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  17. ^ a b "Somalia and Somaliland say no talks on resettling Palestinians from Gaza". Reuters. 14 March 2025. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  18. ^ a b Greyman-Kennard, Danielle (26 December 2025). "Israel, Somaliland establish ties with diplomatic agreement". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  19. ^ Gabobe, Mohamed (8 September 2025). "Somaliland recognition for forced transfer of Palestinians? 'Not worth it'". Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  20. ^ "Somaliland does not rule out absorption of Gazan residents – KAN". Jerusalem Post. 19 March 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  21. ^ "Asked about taking in Gazans, African official says 'open to talk'". Jewish News Syndicate. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  22. ^ "Somaliland recognition for forced transfer of Palestinians? 'Not worth it'". Al Jazeera. 8 September 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  23. ^ "Somaliland recognition confirmed by 'a number of countries,' sources tell DNE Africa – DNE Africa". 25 October 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  24. ^ "PM Netanyahu announced the official recognition of the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state". Israeli Prime Minister's Office. 26 December 2025.
  25. ^ Berman, Lazar (26 December 2025). "Israel becomes first country to recognize breakaway Somaliland as independent state". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  26. ^ a b McArthur, Tom (26 December 2025). "Israel recognises Somaliland as independent state, Netanyahu says". BBC. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  27. ^ "Egypt, Turkey condemn Israel's recognition of Somaliland". The Jerusalem Post. 26 December 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  28. ^ Youssouf, Mahmoud Ali (26 December 2025). "The Chairperson of the African Union Commission rejects any recognition of Somaliland and reaffirms the African Union's unwavering commitment to the unity and sovereignty of Somalia". African Union.
  29. ^ "Arab League, Gulf bloc reject Israel's recognition of Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
  30. ^ "HE GCCSG: Israeli Occupation Forces' Declaration of Recognition of So-called "Somaliland" Constitutes Grave Violation of Principles of International Law & Blatant Infringement Upon Federal Republic of Somalia's Sovereignty & Territorial Integrity". www.gcc-sg.org. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
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