Israel has formally recognised Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, becoming the first country to do so, and has agreed to establish full diplomatic relations with the self-declared republic.
The announcement was made on Friday by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which said the decision marked a major foreign policy step.
“The prime minister announced today the official recognition of the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
It added that the move was in line with the spirit of the Abraham Accords, the agreements brokered by the United States that normalised ties between Israel and several Arab countries during former US President Donald Trump’s first term.
“The declaration is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords,” the statement noted.
Somaliland’s President, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, welcomed the development, describing it as historic and the beginning of a new strategic relationship.
“This is a historic moment as we warmly welcome the Prime Minister of the State of Israel’s recognition of the Republic of Somaliland and affirm Somaliland’s readiness to join the Abraham Accords,” Abdullahi said in a post on X.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has struggled for decades to gain international recognition. Securing formal recognition has been a key priority for Abdullahi since he assumed office last year.
In a separate statement, Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, said both countries had agreed to establish full diplomatic ties.
“We have agreed to establish full diplomatic ties, which will include the appointment of ambassadors and the opening of embassies,” Saar said.
He added that Israel would move quickly to deepen cooperation with Somaliland.
“I have instructed my ministry to act immediately to institutionalise ties between the two countries across a wide range of fields,” he said.
Netanyahu’s office also disclosed that the Israeli leader had invited the Somaliland president to visit Israel, adding that Abdullahi expressed gratitude for what he described as a historic decision.
“The president thanked Prime Minister Netanyahu for his historic declaration,” the statement said.
The recognition is expected to draw international attention, as Somaliland has long sought global acceptance as a sovereign state despite operating with its own government, currency and security institutions for over three decades.
