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 Israel |  Somaliland |
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On 26 December 2025, the State of Israel became the first country and UN member state to officially recognise the Republic of Somaliland as a sovereign and independent state. [1] Somaliland regards itself as the legal successor of the State of Somaliland, whose five-day independence in 1960 was also recognised by Israel and 34 other countries. The entirety of modern Somaliland's territory is claimed but not controlled by Somalia, which does not officially recognise Israel.
Israel was one of the first countries to recognise the British Somaliland brief five-day independence in 1960, [2] [3] though the united Somali Republic it immediately merged into never recognised Israel. [4]
In 1990, Israel was the only country to denounce the Isaaq genocide —a systematic, state-sponsored genocide of Isaaq civilians between 1987 and 1989 by the Somali Democratic Republic— to the UN, expressing concern and bringing the issue to the world's attention. [5] [6] In 1995, then President of Somaliland, Ibrahim Egal, wrote a letter to then Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzhak Rabin seeking to establish diplomatic ties between the two countries. [7] [8] Egal spoke of the need to jointly counter Islamism in the region. [9] According to Abdirahman Tuur, the first president of Somaliland, Egal had sought to form a relationship with Israel in hopes of gaining recognition from the United States. [10]
In February 2001, it was also reported Somaliland was looking towards Israel after Saudi Arabia banned imports of livestock from the country due to Rift Valley fever. [11] During this time several Israeli businessmen were also in the nation's capital Hargeisa. [11] However, President Kahin, who succeeded Egal, is reported to have avoided approaching Israel to prevent straining fragile relations with the Arabs and Muslim world, which it heavily relies on for its livestock trade. [8]
In 2005, Somaliland President Dahir Riyale Kahin declared in an interview with Al-Jazeera that he was free to establish relations with Israel and that no one could stop him. [12] In February 2010, Yigal Palmor, then Spokesman for Israel's Foreign Ministry, referenced Egal's 1995 letter to Rabin about rising Islamic fundamentalism and the strategic importance of Bab al-Mandab to the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, and noted that both Somaliland and Israel were politically isolated. [13] That same month Palmor was quoted in the Haaretz Daily that his government was ready to recognise Somaliland again. [14] [8]
In 2019, reports emerged alleging that Mohamed Haji Adan, then-Minister of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs, had conducted a clandestine visit to Israel. Adan subsequently issued a firm denial of these claims. [15] In August 2020, Somaliland expressed its support for the Israel–United Arab Emirates normalisation agreement. [16]
In 2022, Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi told American officials that he was making overtures towards Israel. The Times of Israel reported that same year that the defence minister of Somaliland had attended a conference organised by the Israeli embassy in France. The Somaliland government denied the reports. [17] Africa Intelligence observed that in February 2022 the Israelis had dispatched several teams to inspect runways built by the Soviet Union in Somaliland. [18]
According to Israeli intelligence officials, Mossad spent years cultivating discreet and high-level relationships in Somaliland, in order to pave the way for diplomatic recognition. [19] Bashir Goth, Somaliland's representative to the United States, characterised the relationship as long-standing, stating that "Israel was always on our side, on our radar." [20]
On 17 October 2024, it was reported that Israel and Somaliland were discussing the possibility of establishing an Israeli military base in Somaliland to counter the Houthis in Yemen. These talks were allegedly mediated by the United Arab Emirates, which had offered to fund the base's construction. [21]
In March 2025, it was reported that Israel and the United States had approached Somaliland (along with Somalia and Sudan), proposing the countries take in refugees from the Gaza Strip, amid the Gaza war. [22] [23] Multiple analysts from various groups in Somaliland have stated that the Somaliland government accepting the transfer of Palestinians would likely cause severe discontent and political violence. [24] [25] [26] Both Somalia and Somaliland denied receiving any proposal from Israel or the United States to resettle Gazans. [26] [27] Jethro Norman at the Danish Institute for International Studies told Al Jazeera that government acceptance would likely give a significant rhetorical victory to Al-Shabaab and ISIS as they already frame their insurgencies as legitimate rebellion against "Crusader–Zionist" Western schemes. [28]
Amid the reports of Somaliland being approached by the Israeli government and the United States government, Somaliland's foreign minister told KAN, Israel's public broadcaster, in a written statement, "We are open to discussion on any matter, but we do not want to speculate on matters that have not yet been discussed. All countries that are interested in discussing certain issues with us must first establish working relations with us and open diplomatic missions in Somaliland." [29] [30]
Recognition of Somaliland received the backing of prominent Republican Party politicians in the United States due to potential engagement with Israel, with the Israeli government indicating that negotiations with Somaliland were ongoing in September. [31]
Thousands gathered in a supportive demonstration in the capital Hargeisa after Israel officially announced the recognition. They chanted "Victory for Somaliland!" and the Israel and Somaliland flags were broadcast live on TV stations. Many waved Somaliland flags, wore national colours, and chanted slogans expressing pride and victory. Similar gatherings took place in towns such as Burao and Gabiley. [32]
Counterprotests were held in the city of Borama, Awdal with some demonstrators waving Palestinian flags and chanted slogans such as, "Free, Free Palestine" and "We don't want separatists". [33] [34]
Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed Israel's recognition of Somaliland. [35] The People's Republic of China criticised Israel's move, as Somaliland sits on a "jugular vein" of its Maritime Silk Road. [36]
Following regional developments related to Israel and Somaliland, reports emerged of arrests targeting individuals who participated in protests expressing solidarity with Palestine. According to local media outlets, civil society groups, and community leaders, demonstrations opposing Israel's actions in Gaza and warning of regional destabilisation were dispersed by security forces in several areas under Somaliland administration. [37] [38]
Several Somaliland members of parliament spoke out against the crackdown against pro-Palestine protests in the Awdal region of Somaliland, specifically regarding the arrest of protestors carrying Palestinian flags. The parliamentarians declared that the police crackdown illegal and warned that it was creating serious tension. MP Mukhtaar Hassan Maydhane stated in a public interview: "If someone in Boorama is arrested for carrying the Palestinian flag, while someone in Hargeisa is allowed to carry the Israeli flag, which religion and which constitution allows this? I say to our people: rise up and reject this." [39]
Authorities reportedly cited public order and security concerns as justification for the arrests. Critics, however, described the measures as an effort to suppress political dissent and prevent public discussion of sensitive geopolitical issues. [34]
In addition to civilian protesters, several Islamic scholars and religious leaders were reportedly detained after delivering sermons or public statements criticising Israel's policies and warning of what they described as harmful intentions toward the Horn of Africa. These clerics allegedly framed their messages in religious and political terms, linking developments in Gaza to broader regional security risks. [34]
Following Israel's recognition of Somaliland, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar made an official visit to Hargeisa in January 2026, becoming the first senior Israeli official to do so. During the visit, Sa'ar met Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi and other officials, describing Somaliland as a strategic partner and highlighting cooperation on security, trade, and regional stability. The visit drew sharp criticism from Somalia, which reiterated its claim over Somaliland's territory and condemned the move as a violation of its sovereignty. [40]
During 2024, Israel was reportedly interested in establishing a base in Somaliland due to its strategic location near Yemen. [41] In an 8 January 2026 interview with Israel's Channel 12, Somaliland Foreign Ministry official Deqa Qasim stated that discussions regarding the potential establishment of an Israeli military base in the territory are currently underway, contradicting previous government denials regarding military cooperation. [42] According to the intelligence services of the Federal Government of Somalia, Somaliland has accepted the condition of the establishment of an Israeli military base on the coast in exchange for recognition. [43]
On 13 January 2026, while declining to elaborate on the full extent of the declared defence ties, Somaliland Foreign Minister Abdirahman Dahir Adan stated, "There are no limits as to what areas we can work with." [44]
The Mossad spent years cultivating discreet and high-level relationships in Somaliland prior to Israels's recognition. [19]
Since 2004, Israeli NGO Save a Child's Heart has worked together with Somaliland to provide paediatric cardiology treatment for children suffering heart conditions. This includes transporting children to Israel to perform surgeries, of which by December 2025, 49 children have been treated in Israel. [45] The organisation works closely with the Edna Adan Maternity Hospital, which was founded by Edna Adan Ismail, who was the first female Foreign Minister of Somaliland and an activist for the abolition of female genital mutilation. [46]
Following recognition, two of the first companies set to enter the Somaliland market are expected to provide significant logistic and strategic support and lay the groundwork for further investments by additional Israeli companies. VisiRight, a technology company specializing in remote inspection, security technology, critical infrastructure protection, entered a strategic partnership with Amore Capital to provide Somaliland with technology for borders, ports and infrastructure. The partnership will also focus on facilitating connections between international companies and Somaliland’s government institutions. [47] [48]
It is no secret to Somaliland though, the former president, Mr Ibrahim Haji Egal addressed the very issue in a letter to the former Israeli head of state, Mr Yitshak Rabin in 1995. Fifteen years ago, Mr Egal saw the threat of Islamic fundamentalism and the importance of Bab El-Mandeb.
...the Somaliland head of state has routinely highlighted his good relations with the United Arab Emirates (which is digging a deep-water port in Berbera) as well as with Israel (which has sent several teams to the country to inspect the Soviet-built runways, which are among the longest in Africa).
Israel and Somaliland have said their new ties would include defense cooperation, but officials declined to elaborate. Somaliland's foreign minister said that details would follow his president's visit to Israel. "There are no limits as to what areas we can work with," Adan said.
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