On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel officially recognises the Republic of Somaliland, calling the move a milestone for the unrecognized state.
Official Recognition
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel has formally recognised the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state. He and Somaliland’s foreign minister Sa‘ar, along with President Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdallah, signed a joint bilateral declaration. Netanyahu praised the president’s leadership in promoting stability and peace and invited him to make an official visit to Israel. He outlined plans to expand cooperation in agriculture, health, technology and the economy.
Milestone for Somaliland
The Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the recognition represents “an important milestone in the long history of Somaliland’s constructive engagement with the international community and reflects the political and institutional reality that has existed in Somaliland for over three decades.”
Since declaring independence in 1991, Somaliland has maintained peace and stability, regularly holds democratic elections and administers effective, accountable government over its territory.
Dangerous Precedent
Foreign ministers of Egypt, Somalia, Turkey and Djibouti criticized the recognition, affirming support for the “unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia.”
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry stated that recognising the independence of a part of a sovereign state constitutes a dangerous precedent, threatening international peace and security and undermining established principles of international law and the UN Charter.
Background and Context
The Republic of Somaliland declared independence in 1991 and, until now, has been unrecognised by the vast majority of the international community. Israel is the first UN member state to officially recognise it, giving the territory official status and opening the possibility of formal diplomatic contacts with countries such as Ethiopia and Taiwan.
Covering approximately 176,000 square kilometres, Somaliland is home to more than six million people. Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted that Somaliland offers the greatest potential for foreign investment among Somali territories, citing its stability, reliable electricity supply and comparatively easy processes for obtaining building permits and property registration.
