Israel’s decision to recognize the Republic of Somaliland marks a sharp departure from decades of international consensus supporting Somalia’s territorial integrity. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel had formally recognized Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, making Israel the first country to extend such recognition since Somaliland’s unilateral secession in 1991. 

The step was sealed through a joint declaration signed by Netanyahu, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, and Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi during a video call.

Israeli officials framed the move “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords,” signaling continuity with Israel’s post-2020 normalization strategy. 

The declaration outlined plans to expand cooperation across agriculture, health, technology, and the broader economy, and included an invitation for the Somaliland president to make an official visit to Israel. 

Somaliland, which has operated as a de facto state for more than 30 years with its own currency, security forces, and elections centered in Hargeisa, has long sought such recognition but had previously been rebuffed by all United Nations member states.

Red Sea Geometry and Leverage

Somaliland’s strategic weight lies less in symbolism than in geography. 

The territory sits along the Gulf of Aden, directly overlooking the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a narrow maritime passage linking the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean. 

Roughly 10% of global maritime trade transits this chokepoint, including significant volumes of oil shipments, placing it alongside the Suez Canal and the Strait of Hormuz in strategic importance. 

Somaliland’s Berbera Port offers a potential logistics hub and an alternative to congested ports in neighboring Djibouti, while also serving as a gateway for landlocked Ethiopia.

Israeli statements emphasized shared interests in security and stability, particularly as shipping in the Red Sea has faced repeated disruption from Houthi attacks linked to the Gaza war. 

Analysts cited by regional media argued that Somaliland’s relative stability, compared with Somalia’s long-running conflict with al-Shabaab, makes it an attractive partner for intelligence cooperation and maritime awareness in a volatile corridor.

“A Dangerous Precedent”

Regional reaction was swift and negative. 

Egypt’s foreign minister coordinated calls with counterparts in Somalia, Türkiye, and Djibouti, rejecting Israel’s recognition and reaffirming support for Somalia’s sovereignty. 

Egyptian officials warned that recognizing breakaway regions sets “a dangerous precedent” that could undermine state legitimacy across fragile regions.

The same consultations also reiterated opposition to any forced displacement of Palestinians and to the creation of parallel authorities, language that linked the Somaliland decision to broader anxieties about Israel’s conduct in Gaza. 

While the December 26 announcement made no reference to Gaza, earlier in 2025, from March through September, media reports suggested Israel and the United States had approached several African governments, including Somaliland, about potential resettlement of displaced Palestinians. 

Somaliland authorities denied formal talks, and local analysts warned such schemes would inflame regional tensions.

Israel’s move also revives a historical footnote. 

Israel briefly recognized Somaliland in 1960, for five days, before the territory voluntarily united with Somalia. 

This time, the recognition stands alone, with no other state following suit as of December 26, 2025. 

Somaliland maintains liaison offices with actors such as the United Kingdom, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Taiwan, but these fall short of full diplomatic recognition.

By breaking the long-standing wall of non-recognition, Israel has elevated Somaliland’s international profile while simultaneously straining relations with Somalia’s allies in the Arab League and the Horn of Africa.