On Saturday, a significant number of nations voiced firm opposition to Israel's announcement made the day before recognizing Somaliland as an independent state — a move unobserved by any other country for more than three decades. The rationale behind Israel's initiative on Friday remains unclear, as does whether any diplomatic or strategic reciprocation was anticipated.
Somaliland proclaimed its independence from Somalia in 1991 amid ongoing conflict which has perpetuated instability within the East African nation. Despite having established self-governance mechanisms and its own currency, Somaliland had not received official recognition from any nation until Israel’s recent endorsement.
A coalition comprising over 20 countries, primarily hailing from the Middle East and Africa, along with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, issued a joint statement on Saturday rejecting Israel's unilateral recognition. They underscored the "serious repercussions of such unprecedented measure on peace and security in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea and its serious effects on international peace and security as a whole." This statement reflects widespread apprehension regarding regional stability.
Geographically, Somaliland is characterized by arid terrain, bordering the Gulf of Aden opposite Yemen and adjacent to the compact nation of Djibouti. Of strategic note, Djibouti hosts military bases for several global powers, including the United States, China, and France.
The joint declaration further emphasized complete repudiation of any association between Israel's recognition and purported efforts to forcibly displace Palestinians from their homeland. Syria also echoed this stance by issuing a separate rejection.
Earlier during the year, officials from both the United States and Israel disclosed that Israel had engaged Somaliland in discussions concerning the possibility of resettling Palestinians displaced from Gaza, tied to the former US President Donald Trump's proposal. However, this resettlement plan has since been abandoned by the United States.
The U.S. State Department reaffirmed on Saturday its continued recognition of Somalia’s territorial integrity, explicitly including Somaliland within that framework.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office asserted that Netanyahu, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, and Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi signed a joint declaration “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords.” This initiative, launched in 2020, aimed to establish commercial and diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab and Muslim-majority nations. Former President Trump viewed these accords as pivotal to fostering long-term peace in the Middle East.
Conversely, Somalia’s federal administration vigorously condemned this recognition as unlawful, restating that Somaliland constitutes an inseparable part of Somalia’s sovereign territory.
Regional African entities also expressed disapproval. African Union Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf highlighted that undermining Somalia's sovereignty threatens peace and stability across the continent. Similarly, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a prominent East African bloc, pointed out that Somalia's sovereignty is recognized under international law. IGAD stated any unilateral attempts at recognition contravene the United Nations charter and the foundational agreements of both its organization and the African Union.