In a unilateral diplomatic move that has drawn swift and widespread international condemnation, Israel formally recognized the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as an independent state on December 26, 2025. The decision immediately plunged the Horn of Africa into a fresh diplomatic crisis, with Somalia denouncing the move as a "deliberate attack" on its sovereignty and a "deliberate attack" on its sovereignty and an "unlawful action". Major regional powers and pan-African bodies have rejected the recognition, warning it threatens to destabilize the entire continent and sets a dangerous precedent for secessionist movements.
Somaliland, a former British protectorate, declared independence from Somalia in 1991 as the rest of the country descended into civil war. Despite maintaining relative stability, its own currency, and a functioning government for over three decades, no United Nations member state had previously recognized its sovereignty. Historical ties between Israel and Somaliland, however, are not new. Israel was one of 35 countries to recognize Somaliland's initial, brief five-day independence in 1960. In 1995, then-President of Somaliland Ibrahim Egal wrote to Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin seeking to establish diplomatic ties, citing a shared need to counter Islamism in the region. More recently, Israel's Mossad intelligence agency spent years cultivating high-level relationships in Somaliland to pave the way for this diplomatic breakthrough.
Analysts widely view Israel's decision through the lens of its strategic interests in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa, a region of growing importance. Somaliland's location on the Gulf of Aden, directly opposite Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, offers a potential base for intelligence and operations. An Israeli think tank noted that a partnership with Somaliland could significantly enhance Israel's ability to address threats from the Iran-backed Houthis, similar to its strategic alliance with Azerbaijan. This calculation has stoked regional resentment. Egypt, a major player and mediator, condemned the recognition as a violation of international law and a threat to stability, framing it as part of Israel's "expansionist policy". Turkey, a close ally of Somalia, similarly labeled it "overt interference" aimed at creating instability.
The timing and nature of the recognition have sparked intense suspicion, given earlier reports linking it to controversial plans for Palestinian refugees. In March 2025, reports emerged that Israel and the United States had approached Somaliland, among other African nations, about potentially resettling Palestinians from Gaza. Although both Somaliland and Somalia denied receiving a formal proposal, analysts warned that any such move would be deeply unpopular in Somaliland and would provide a major propaganda victory for militant groups like al-Shabab. In their joint condemnation, the foreign ministers of Egypt, Turkey, Somalia, and Djibouti explicitly rejected any plans to displace Palestinians from their homeland.
The diplomatic backlash has been broad and forceful. The African Union issued a firm statement "reject[ing] any initiative or action aimed at recognizing Somaliland as an independent entity," affirming that it remains an integral part of Somalia. The Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation all voiced their rejection and support for Somalia's unity. The militant group al-Shabab, which controls parts of southern Somalia, vowed to fight any Israeli attempt to use Somaliland.
While crowds in Somaliland's capital, Hargeisa, celebrated the recognition as a historic breakthrough, the move has further isolated Israel diplomatically in Africa and the Muslim world. It has elevated a regional border dispute into a major international crisis, with the sovereignty and future of Somalia at its center.