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<\/a><\/p>\nSomaliland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, on a video call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Dec. 26, 2025. (Cabdiraxmaan Cirro\/X)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cThe Prime Minister announced today the official recognition of the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state,\u201d wrote Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s office in a post on X. \u201cThe State of Israel plans to immediately expand its relations with the Republic of Somaliland through extensive cooperation in the fields of agriculture, health, technology, and economy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Somaliland\u2019s president welcomed the announcement from Netanyahu in a post on X, adding that he affirmed the region\u2019s \u201creadiness to join the Abraham Accords,\u201d the normalization agreements between Israel and a handful of Arab states that was brokered during President Donald Trump\u2019s first term.<\/p>\n
Somaliland proclaimed independence from Somalia in 1991 during the country\u2019s civil war, but has failed to receive recognition from the international community in part due to Somalia\u2019s opposition to its secession. Somalia officially rejects ties with Israel, and has consistently refused to recognize the state of Israel since 1960. Somalia and Somaliland are overwhelmingly Muslim.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ministers affirmed their total rejection and condemnation of Israel\u2019s recognition of the Somaliland region, stressing their full support for the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia,\u201d Egypt\u2019s foreign ministry said in a statement following a phone call between Egypt\u2019s foreign minister and his Somali, Turkish and Djiboutian counterparts, according to Reuters.<\/p>\n
In November, the Israeli think tank Institute for National Security Studies argued in a report that recognizing Somaliland could be in Israel\u2019s strategic interest.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomaliland\u2019s territory could serve as a forward base for multiple missions: intelligence monitoring of the Houthis and their armament efforts; logistical support for Yemen\u2019s legitimate government in its war against them; and a platform for direct operations against the Houthis,\u201d the report read.<\/p>\n
It is unclear if the United States will follow suit. In August, Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz wrote to Trump urging him to recognize Somaliland.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomaliland has emerged as a critical security and diplomatic partner for the United States, helping America advance our national security interests in the Horn of Africa and beyond,\u201d wrote Cruz.<\/p>\n