- The African Union rejects the recognition of Somaliland.
- Somalia condemns Israel's move as illegal.
- Egypt, Türkiye and Djibouti discuss tensions in the Horn of Africa.
Israel on Friday became the first country to formally recognize the self-proclaimed Republic of Somaliland as an independent, sovereign state, a decision that could reshape regional dynamics and test Somalia's long-standing 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 the president of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, praised his leadership and invited him to visit Israel.
Netanyahu said the statement “is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, signed at the initiative of President Trump.”
The 2020 agreements were negotiated by the first Trump administration and included Israel formalizing diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which other countries joined later.
Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and the president of Somaliland signed a joint declaration of mutual recognition, according to the Israeli statement.
Abdullahi said in a statement that Somaliland would join the Abraham Accords, calling it a step towards 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 “illegal 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 adopt 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 the unity and territorial integrity of Somalia and warned that recognizing breakaway regions represented 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 the unity and territorial integrity of Somalia and warning that such measures risked undermining peace and stability across the continent, the AU Commission chairman said.
Somaliland has enjoyed effective autonomy – and relative peace and stability – since 1991, when Somalia fell into civil war, but the breakaway region has not received recognition from any other country.
Over the years, Somalia has united international actors against any country that recognizes Somaliland.
The former British protectorate hopes that recognition by Israel will encourage other nations to follow its example, increasing its diplomatic clout 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, and Mogadishu said it categorically rejected any such move.
