Israel becomes first country to officially recognise Somaliland
Israel has officially recognised the breakaway region of Somaliland as a sovereign state, becoming the first country to do so.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Friday that he had signed a mutual declaration alongside Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, and Somaliland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi.
The declaration states that Israel recognises Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state.
Somaliland has been part of the unified Somali Republic since 1960, but declared its independence in 1991 and established a de facto state.
Although it has had unofficial diplomatic relations with several countries, its sovereignty had not been recognised by any permanent UN member state until Friday.
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The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said the declaration was “in the spirit” of the Abraham Accords, the normalisation agreements signed between Israel and several Arab states in 2020.
In a video posted on social media, Netanyahu announced the recognition with a video call with Abdullahi.
“Our friendship is seminal and historic. So I'm very, very happy and I'm very proud of this day,” the prime minister said.
The Prime Minister announced today the official recognition of the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) December 26, 2025
Prime Minister Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Sa'ar, and the President of the Republic of Somaliland signed a joint and mutual declaration. pic.twitter.com/M0AeTs5oxY
“I think this will be a great opportunity for expanding our partnership. We intend to work together with you on economic fields, on agriculture, and the fields of social development.”
He then extended an invitation to the president for an official visit to Israel.
“Of course I'll communicate to President Trump your willingness and desire to join the Abraham Accords,” Netanyahu added.
Abdullahi responded by calling it a historic day and said he accepted the invitation.
“I will be glad to be in Jerusalem as soon as possible,” the Somaliland president told Netanyahu.
Cameron Hudson, a consultant on security and geopolitics in Africa, and former CIA analyst, said that while a few countries may follow Israel's lead, there would be pushback from African countries.
“Countries that don't want to endanger their relationships with the African Union, other African countries, or other Arab states rejecting this recognition, will be hesitant to advance any diplomatic relationship with Somaliland,” Hudson told Middle East Eye.
“This is a very divisive and selfish move by the Israelis to advance their own interests, without providing broader recognition of the interests of other African or regional states who will see this as unsettling and even threatening,” he added.
Badr Abdelatty, Egypt's foreign minister, held a phone call on Friday with his counterparts in Somalia, Turkey and Djibouti, following the announcement.
Cairo's foreign ministry said that the ministers of all four countries rejected and condemned Israel's recognition of Somaliland, and stressed their “full support for the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia”.
It said that it also rejected “any plans to displace the Palestinian people outside their land, which are rejected by the vast majority of the world’s countries”.
Earlier this year, several media outlets reported that the US and Israel had contacted Somaliland over the potential resettlement of forcibly displaced Palestinians from Gaza.
Somaliland's foreign minister denied the reports, stating: "I haven't received such a proposal, and there are no talks with anyone regarding Palestinians."
The discussions risked tensions and anger among Somalilanders, analysts and locals previously told MEE.
UAE ties
In August, Ted Cruz, the Republican senator from Texas, wrote to President Donald Trump urging him to formally recognise Somaliland.
Cruz said Hargeisa was seeking to strengthen ties with Israel and had voiced support for the Abraham Accords.
Somaliland's authorities maintain close relations with the United Arab Emirates, which is thought to be a key advocate for Hargeisa's recognition on the international stage.
MEE reported in October that Somaliland's Berbera port was part of a network of bases along the Gulf of Aden built by the UAE.
The Somaliland government accepted an Emirati bid in 2017 to establish a military base in Berbera.
Satellite imagery shows the naval base in Berbera has been transformed from a stalled project into a near-completed facility, with advanced infrastructure including a modern military port, a deep-water dock and an airstrip with hangars and support facilities.
The runway at Berbera is 4km long, allowing it to receive heavy transport aircraft and fighter jets.
Together, these facilities have turned Berbera into a regionally important strategic hub.
In June, Abu Dhabi finalised an agreement to build a railway linking the Somaliland port to Ethiopia
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