JERUSALEM / HARGEISA – December 26, 2025 – In a move that has sent shockwaves through the Horn of Africa and the Middle East, Israel officially became the first UN member state to recognize the Republic of Somaliland as a sovereign and independent nation. The historic agreement, signed today by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, establishes full diplomatic ties and integrates the breakaway region into the expanding framework of the Abraham Accords.
The deal was finalized during a high-profile video call between the two leaders, during which they signed a “joint and mutual declaration.” Netanyahu later hailed the partnership as “seminal and historic,” noting that it was forged “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords” initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump.
A Strategic Pivot in the Horn of Africa
The recognition ends more than three decades of diplomatic limbo for Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991. While the region has functioned as a stable, democratic de facto state with its own currency and military, it had previously failed to secure formal recognition from any sovereign nation.
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Security & Maritime Interests: Israeli analysts point to Somaliland’s strategic location along the Gulf of Aden as a primary driver. The partnership could provide Israel with a forward base to monitor Houthi rebel activity in Yemen and secure critical shipping lanes in the Red Sea.
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Economic Cooperation: The agreement outlines immediate “extensive cooperation” in agriculture, healthcare, technology, and social development. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar confirmed that both nations will move “immediately” to appoint ambassadors and open embassies.
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The Abraham Accords Expansion: President Abdullahi, also known as “Irro,” confirmed Somaliland’s intention to fully accede to the Abraham Accords, calling the move a “step toward regional and global peace.”
Regional Fury and Global Fallout
The announcement has triggered immediate and fierce condemnation from regional powers who view the move as a violation of Somalia’s territorial integrity.
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Somalia’s Reaction: While Mogadishu has not yet issued a formal retaliatory strike, Somali politicians have labeled the move a “failure of diplomacy” and a “grave interference” in their domestic affairs.
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Turkey and Egypt: Both nations—key backers of a unified Somalia—expressed “total rejection” of the recognition. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry accused Israel of pursuing an “expansionist policy” that destabilizes East Africa.
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U.S. Stance: While President Trump is reported to have backed the move behind the scenes, the U.S. State Department remains officially split, as some officials fear the recognition could jeopardize ongoing military counter-terrorism cooperation with the Somali government in the fight against Al-Shabaab.
The Gaza Connection
The recognition also comes amidst lingering controversy regarding reports from earlier in the year that Somaliland was being considered as a potential location for the voluntary resettlement of Palestinian refugees from Gaza. While both governments previously denied a formal deal, the sudden diplomatic breakthrough has reignited speculation about the underlying components of the agreement.
As Somaliland celebrates what its Foreign Ministry calls its “moment on the world stage,” the international community remains on high alert for how this realignment will alter the balance of power in one of the world’s most volatile corridors.
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