Israel becomes first country to recognise Somaliland as sovereign state

"The Israeli prime minister's office said the declaration was in the spirit of the Abraham accords, a series of normalisation agreements between Israel and mostly Arab states signed in 2020. It posted a video of Benjamin Netanyahu speaking via video call with Somaliland's president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, in which he invited him to visit Israel and described the friendship between the two countries as historic. Abdullahi said he would be glad to be in Jerusalem as soon as possible."

"The Israeli foreign minister, Gideon Sa'ar, announced on Friday that Israel and Somaliland had signed an agreement establishing full diplomatic relations, which would include the opening of embassies and the appointment of ambassadors. Sa'ar said the recognition came after a year of talks between the two countries and that he had instructed Israel's ministry of foreign affairs to immediately institutionalise ties between the two countries."

"Israeli analysts have said recognition of the breakaway state could be in Israel's strategic interest, given Somaliland's proximity to Yemen, where Israel has conducted extensive airstrikes against the Houthi rebels over the past two years. A report in November by the Institute for National Security Studies, an Israeli thinktank, said: Somaliland's territory could serve as a forward base for multiple missions: intelligence monitoring of the Houthis and their armament efforts; logistical support for Yemen's legitimate"

Israel formally recognised Somaliland as a sovereign state and signed an agreement establishing full diplomatic relations, including plans to open embassies and appoint ambassadors. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and had not been recognised by any UN member states. Somaliland governs the northwest of Somalia and borders Djibouti and Ethiopia. The recognition was framed as aligned with the Abraham Accords, and Israeli leaders exchanged invitations and praise. Talks lasted a year and Israeli officials moved to institutionalise ties. Analysts and a thinktank noted potential strategic benefits for Israel, citing Somaliland's proximity to Yemen and possible uses for intelligence and logistical support.

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