Israel has officially recognised Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, marking a major diplomatic milestone for the self-declared republic and making Israel the first country to grant it formal recognition.
The announcement was made on Friday by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which confirmed that Israel had also agreed to establish full diplomatic relations with Somaliland.
“The prime minister announced today the official recognition of the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state,” Netanyahu’s office said, describing the move as being in line with the spirit of the Abraham Accords.
The Abraham Accords refer to a series of diplomatic agreements brokered by former United States President Donald Trump during his first term, which normalised relations between Israel and several Arab nations.
Reacting to the development, Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi welcomed Israel’s decision, describing it as historic and signalling the start of a strategic partnership between both sides.
In a post on X, Abdullahi said Somaliland was ready to join the Abraham Accords and deepen cooperation with Israel, noting that international recognition remains the top priority of his administration since assuming office last year.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has maintained its own government, security forces and political institutions for decades, despite lacking formal recognition from the international community.
Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said both countries had agreed to establish full diplomatic ties, including the exchange of ambassadors and the opening of embassies.
“I have instructed my ministry to act immediately to institutionalise ties between the two countries across a wide range of fields,” Saar said.
Netanyahu’s office also disclosed that the Israeli prime minister had invited President Abdullahi to visit Israel, adding that the Somaliland leader expressed appreciation for what he described as a historic declaration.
