In its statement, the European External Action Service (EEAS) stressed that respecting the territorial integrity of Somalia, in accordance with its constitution and the Charter of the African Union and the United Nations, is crucial for the peace and stability of the entire Horn of Africa region. The European Union also called for dialogue between Somaliland and the Somali government “to resolve long-standing disputes.”
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The decision of the government of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was categorically opposed by the Somali authorities, who called it an “unlawful move” and a “deliberate attack on Somalia's sovereignty.” President Hassan Mohamud called the Israeli declaration “aggressive interference in Somalia's internal affairs that is contrary to international law, established legal and diplomatic principles.”
Israel was the first to recognize Somaliland
According to a statement from the Israeli authorities, Prime Minister Netanyahu and the head of Israeli diplomacy Gideon Saar and the President of Somaliland Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi signed a declaration of mutual recognition. Netanyahu also congratulated Abdullahi and praised his leadership and invited him to visit Israel.
The head of the Israeli government emphasized that the declaration of recognition of Somaliland “is consistent with the spirit of the Abraham Accords, signed on the initiative of US President Donald Trump.” In 2020, during Trump's first term, Israel established diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, later joined by other Arab and Muslim countries.
Criticism following Israel's decision
The decision of the Israeli government was negatively received by the Islamist circles that co-create Somaliland; In their opinion, Netanyahu's decision is instrumental. “It is a great shame that some Somalis celebrate the recognition of Somaliland by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu” while Israel is “the greatest enemy of Islamic society,” said Ali Dhire, spokesman for the al-Qaeda-linked Shebab group, as quoted by AFP.
Israel's decision was condemned by, among others, Egypt and Türkiye and the African Union. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty announced that he had talked with his counterparts from Somalia, Turkey and Djibouti about what he called dangerous events in the Horn of Africa.
The African Union reaffirmed its unequivocal support for the “unity and territorial integrity of Somalia” and warned that Israel's decision, especially if followed by other countries, “may threaten peace and stability across the continent.”
Somaliland broke with the government in Mogadishu in 1991.
Somaliland is located in the northern part of Somalia. Its territory includes former British Somalia, which, after merging with Italian Somalia, led to the creation of independent Somalia in 1960. Somaliland broke with the government in Mogadishu in 1991 and has been seeking international recognition since then. As of Saturday, no country had officially recognized the territory's independence.
