When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shook hands with Somaliland President Abdi Rahman Mohamed Abdullah to celebrate their “mutual recognition,” a storm was brewing that could potentially alter the strategic landscape of the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.
On December 26, 2025, Israel officially recognized Somaliland as an independent sovereign state, becoming the first country in the world to take such action. Somaliland immediately announced its intention to join the Abraham Accords, which were brokered by the United States in 2020.
This move immediately sparked a strong backlash from the Somali Federal Government, calling it a “deliberate attack on its sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Within the next 24 hours, the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Palestine, unanimously condemned this action as a violation of international law and the principles of regional stability.
01 Core Event
On December 26, 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement on the social platform X, announcing Israel’s official recognition of Somaliland as an independent sovereign state.
Netanyahu stated that this decision “aligns with the spirit of the Abraham Accords initiated by President Trump.”
According to the Israeli official statement, Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, and Somaliland President Abdi Rahman Mohamed Abdullah jointly signed a mutual recognition statement.
The Somaliland President’s Office subsequently issued a statement announcing that Somaliland would join the Abraham Accords, calling it “a step toward regional and global peace.”
02 Regional Reactions
The Somali Federal Government swiftly responded, issuing a statement later that day denouncing Israel’s move as an “illegal step” and a “deliberate attack” on its sovereignty.
The statement emphasized: “The Federal Government is determined to take all necessary diplomatic, political, and legal measures in accordance with international law to preserve its sovereignty, unity, and internationally recognized borders.”
The foreign ministers of Egypt, Turkey, and Djibouti held a phone conference on Friday evening regarding the matter, unanimously condemning Israel’s decision.
The three countries warned that recognizing a secessionist region “poses a threat to international peace and security.”
03 Collective Stance of the Arab World
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit issued a statement condemning Israel’s action as “a blatant violation of international law and a clear infringement on the principles of national unity and sovereignty.”
The Gulf Cooperation Council similarly rejected Israel’s recognition of Somaliland’s independence, calling it “a grave violation of international law principles and a flagrant infringement on Somalia’s sovereignty.”
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement emphasizing that Israel’s step “consolidates unilateral separatist measures” and is contrary to international law. The statement reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s “full support” for Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that this move “poses a threat to Arab and regional security.”
04 Analysis of Strategic Motivations
The Israeli government claimed it would seek immediate cooperation with Somaliland in agriculture, health, technology, and economic sectors. However, analysts believe there are deeper strategic considerations behind this move.
Somaliland controls over 460 miles of coastline along the Gulf of Aden, strategically located at the southern entrance of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
This strait is a critical chokepoint for global trade, with approximately one-third of global maritime trade passing through annually, including vital energy shipments from the Middle East to Europe and Asia.
Since late 2023, Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes have caused insurance premiums to skyrocket and forced ships to reroute away from the Suez Canal, costing the global supply chain billions of dollars.
Against this backdrop, controlling or accessing Somaliland’s coastline has become key to any strategy aimed at ensuring Red Sea stability.
05 Somaliland’s Aspirations
Since declaring independence from Somalia in 1991, Somaliland has been seeking formal recognition from the international community. Although the region enjoys de facto autonomy and maintains relative peace and stability, it has yet to receive formal recognition from any country.
Israel’s decision offers hope to Somaliland, which anticipates that this recognition may encourage other countries to follow suit, enhancing its diplomatic influence and opening doors to international markets.
Somaliland has actively built its image as an oasis of stability in the Horn of Africa, with a relatively well-established administrative system and democratic electoral processes.
06 African Union’s Position
African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf expressed deep concern over the developments, warning that any attempts to alter Somalia’s status quo could undermine peace and stability on the African continent.
The African Union reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to Somalia’s “unity and territorial integrity.”
This stance reflects the AU’s longstanding principle of not supporting secessionist entities, regardless of their political claims.
Israel’s recognition could potentially break the long-held tradition on the continent of not easily endorsing separatist movements.
07 Potential Impacts and Risks
This decision could have broad implications for the security and stability of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait region. Some observers believe Israel’s move may be aimed at gaining access to military facilities in the region to counter Houthi drone and missile threats.
Somaliland’s port city of Berbera, located along the Gulf of Aden, provides access to the Red Sea and overlooks the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. If Israel gains access to this strategic location, it could significantly expand its military and intelligence capabilities in the region.
For the Somali Federal Government, this decision could exacerbate internal political divisions and potentially be exploited by terrorist groups like Al-Shabaab to recruit members and launch attacks against Israeli or related interests.
08 Historical Context and Future Trajectory
The rift between Somaliland and Somalia stems from historical legacies of colonialism. Somaliland was formerly a British protectorate, while the rest of Somalia was under Italian colonial rule.
In 1960, both territories gained independence separately and soon merged to form the Somali Republic. However, Somaliland has long felt marginalized.
After the collapse of the Somali central government in 1991, Somaliland declared independence and established its own governance system.
In 2024, Ethiopia signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Somaliland, granting Ethiopia access to 20 kilometers of coastline near Berbera in exchange for a promise of formal recognition of Somaliland.
Somalia immediately summoned the Ethiopian ambassador in protest, as Mogadishu does not recognize this breakaway region.
The Somali government also referenced another sensitive topic at the end of its statement: “Somalia will never accept actions that render the Palestinian people stateless.”
This remark suggests the Somali government’s concern that Israel’s move may be linked to previously rumored plans to resettle Gazan Palestinians in Somaliland.
The phone records between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdellati and his Somali, Turkish, and Djiboutian counterparts show that all four countries warned this recognition “sets a dangerous precedent for acknowledging the secession of parts of sovereign states.”
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