Israel has formally recognised Somaliland as an independent state, becoming the first United Nations member nation to grant such status to the self-declared republic.
The announcement was made on December 26, 2025, following a video conference between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi.
This decision also ends over 34 years of international isolation for Somaliland, which has operated as a de facto independent entity since breaking away from Somalia in 1991.
Netanyahu described the move to recognise Somaliland as an independent state as being “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords.”
He added that Israel would seek immediate cooperation with Somaliland in agriculture, health, technology, and the economy.
In a statement, he congratulated Somaliland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, praised his leadership, and invited him to visit Israel.
Netanyahu said the declaration “is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, signed at the initiative of President Trump.”
The 2020 accords were brokered by United States President Donald Trump’s first administration and included Israel formalising diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, with other countries joining later.
Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, and Somaliland’s president signed a joint declaration of mutual recognition, the Israeli statement said.
Abdullahi said in a statement that Somaliland would join the Abraham Accords, calling it a step toward regional and global peace. He said Somaliland was committed to building partnerships, boosting mutual prosperity, and promoting stability across the Middle East and Africa.
However, the Federal Government of Somalia in Mogadishu has immediately condemned the move to recognize Somaliland as an independent state.
This is as Somalia labelled it a “blatant violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
This was contained in a statement from the prime minister’s office.
“The federal government affirms its determination to pursue all necessary diplomatic, political, and legal measures, in accordance with international law, to defend its sovereignty, unity, and internationally recognized borders,” the statement said.
Similarly, the African Union (AU) issued a statement rejecting the recognition, citing concerns that it could set a “dangerous precedent” for other breakaway regions across the continent.
The statement reads: “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.
“The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has taken note, with deep concern, of recent developments relating to Somaliland.
“In this regard, the Chairperson of the Commission unequivocally reaffirms the longstanding and consistent position of the African Union, grounded in the principles enshrined in the Constitutive Act of the African Union, in particular the respect for the intangibility of borders inherited at independence, as affirmed by the 1964 decision of the Organization of African Unity.
“The Chairperson of the Commission @ymahmoudali firmly rejects any initiative or action aimed at recognizing Somaliland as an independent entity, recalling that Somaliland remains an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia. Any attempt to undermine the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Somalia runs counter to the fundamental principles of the African Union and risks setting a dangerous precedent with far-reaching implications for peace and stability across the continent.”
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 Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity, and warned that recognising breakaway regions posed a threat to international peace and security, Egypt’s foreign ministry said.
Somaliland has enjoyed effective autonomy – and relative peace and stability – since 1991 when Somalia descended into civil war, but the breakaway region has failed to receive recognition from any other country.
Over the years, Somalia has rallied international actors against any country recognising Somaliland.
The former British protectorate hopes that recognition by Israel will encourage other nations to follow suit, increasing its diplomatic heft and access to international markets.
