Israel becomes first country to formally recognize Somaliland as independent state [View all]

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters via CNN

Israel becomes first country to formally recognize Somaliland as independent state

Updated Dec 26, 2025
Updated Dec 26, 2025, 5:05 PM ET
PUBLISHED Dec 26, 2025, 1:36 PM ET

By Reuters

(Reuters) — Israel became the first country to formally recognize the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state on Friday – a decision that could reshape regional dynamics and test Somalia’s longstanding opposition to secession.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would seek immediate cooperation with Somaliland in agriculture, health, technology and the economy. In a statement, he congratulated Somaliland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, praised his leadership and invited him to visit Israel.

Netanyahu said the declaration “is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, signed at the initiative of President Trump.”

The 2020 accords were brokered by Trump’s first administration and included Israel formalizing diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, with other countries joining later.

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Read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/12/26/africa/israel-recognizes-somaliland-latam-intl

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Related:
• EU backs Somalia after Israel recognizes Somaliland (Deutsche Welle)
• Israel’s recognition of Somaliland slammed across world capitals (Al Jazeera)