Joy in Somaliland, fury elsewhere as Israel became the first country to recognize the breakaway republic.
Jubilant crowds took to the streets in various towns across Somaliland on Sunday, waving national flags, setting off fireworks to celebrate Israel’s recognition of the self-declared republic.
The celebrations followed Israel’s announcement on Friday, December 26, that it had formally recognized Somaliland, a first for any United Nations member state since the region unilaterally declared independence from Somalia in 1991.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu called the move “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords,” the U.S.-brokered deals that are assisting Israel in normalizing relations with several Arab and Muslim-majority countries, including Saudi Arabia.
In a video call with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, Netanyahu signed a joint declaration of mutual recognition alongside Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, promising immediate cooperation in agriculture, health, technology, and security.
Somaliland’s president hailed the development as a “historic moment” and the launch of a “strategic partnership” to promote mutual prosperity, regional stability, and peace across the Middle East and Africa.
The recognition of Somaliland could open doors to embassies, ambassadors, and greater international cooperation, given that the country operates its own government, currency, passports, and security forces but has remained diplomatically isolated for over three decades.
The move drew swift and sharp condemnation from Somalia’s federal government. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud labeled it “illegal aggression” and a “deliberate attack” on Somalia’s sovereignty, insisting Somaliland remains an “integral, inseparable, and inalienable” part of the country.
Somalia’s parliament passed a symbolic resolution declaring the recognition “null and void,” while the Foreign Ministry warned it undermined regional peace.
The African Union (AU) firmly rejected any recognition of Somaliland as independent, calling it a threat to continental stability and reaffirming Somalia’s territorial integrity.
Egypt, Turkey, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the European Union echoed similar concerns, warning that endorsing breakaway entities could set dangerous precedents.
Adding to the tensions, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have targeted Red Sea shipping in solidarity with Palestinians during the Gaza conflict, issued a stark warning on Sunday.
Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi declared that “any Israeli presence in Somaliland would be considered a military target” for their forces, framing the recognition as “aggression” against Somalia, Yemen, and Red Sea security.
Analysts note Somaliland’s strategic position on the Gulf of Aden could give Israel enhanced access for monitoring or operations against Houthis. While Somaliland’s relative stability contrasts with Somalia’s challenges, including Al-Shabaab militancy, the recognition remains highly contentious.
Israel’s top ally, the U.S., reiterated support for Somalia’s sovereignty, but the breakthrough could encourage future diplomatic shifts.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said earlier that the country formally recognised Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, as an “independent and sovereign state”. (Photo by Farhan Aleli / AFP)
“Victory for Somaliland!”
The flag was hoisted alongside Israel’s flag in a ceremony broadcast live by Somaliland television stations.
“Mass celebrations are taking place in Hargeisa and across cities of the Republic of Somaliland, as citizens proudly gather to commemorate the historic decision by the Government of Israel,” Somaliland’s foreign ministry said on X.
“We welcome every country that recognises our existence,” Jama Suleyman, a resident of Hargeisa, told AFP.
“For the people of Somalia, our neighbours should not be concerned about this victory; we know they are making noises, but there is nothing that will make Somaliland stop from aiming high,” he added.
In addition, press reports a few months ago said Somaliland was among a handful of African territories willing to host Palestinians expelled by Israel.
Dan Diker (President, Jerusalem Center for Foreign Affairs): In a December 28 interview clip shared on X, Diker claimed Somaliland “privately offered to absorb 100,000 to 1.5 million Gazans” for “safe lives,” calling it a key factor in Israel’s recognition and noting Somaliland as the “only country to step up.”
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Foreign Office tweeted and said: We support the unity, integrity, and sovereignty of Somalia, and reject the Israeli recognition of Somaliland.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine affirms its absolute support for the unity, sovereignty, and political independence of Somalia, ensuring the brotherly Somali people’s right to a dignified life, security, and stability, in line with international law, Arab and international consensus resolutions, and the resolutions of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
It expresses its rejection and condemnation of Israel’s recognition—by the illegitimate occupying power—of the Somaliland region, and its rejection of any steps that support secession or lend it legitimacy, or that undermine Somalia’s sovereignty and unity and jeopardise its stability.
The Ministry affirms that this rejected recognition is part of Israel’s attempts—as a colonial power working to destabilise international peace and security, particularly regional and Arab security—which insists on threatening the region and keeping it in a state of instability, in clear violation of international law, the UN Charter, and the peremptory norms requiring respect for the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of states.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates recalls that Israel has previously used the name Somaliland as a destination for the expulsion of members of our Palestinian people, particularly from the Gaza Strip.
Accordingly, the State of Palestine affirms its total rejection of Israeli plans for the forced displacement of our people, under any pretext whatsoever, and considers it a red line, while warning against any alignment with these rejected propositions.
Meanwhile, President Mohamud told the Somali parliament: “Somalia will never accept the people of Palestine to be forcibly evicted from their rightful land to a faraway place, let it be Somalia or elsewhere.”
However, Khadar Hussein Abdi, minister of the presidency of Somaliland, sought to dispel fears. “The recognition and the arrival of Israel will not create violence, will not bring conflict, and will never harm anyone,” he said.
- By ET Online Desk With AFP Inputs
- Mail us at: editor (at) eurasiantimes.com
