Israel’s decision to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent sovereign state has sent shockwaves across the Horn of Africa, the Middle East, and the wider international community. Announced on December 27 and signed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, the move makes Israel the first country to officially acknowledge the independence of the breakaway region, which has operated as a de facto state since 1991. While Somaliland’s leadership has celebrated the decision as historic and transformative, Somalia and key regional actors have condemned it as a direct assault on Somali sovereignty, warning of destabilizing consequences.

The recognition is far more than a symbolic diplomatic gesture. It intersects with long-standing disputes over territorial integrity in Africa, Israel’s evolving regional strategy, the geopolitics of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, and the fragile balance of power in one of the world’s most volatile regions.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 following the collapse of the Siad Barre regime and a devastating civil war. Since then, it has developed many attributes of a functioning state: a relatively stable political system, regular elections, its own currency, security forces, and administrative institutions based in its capital, Hargeisa. With an estimated population of around 6.2 million, Somaliland has often contrasted its relative stability with the prolonged conflict, insurgency, and political fragility that have plagued southern Somalia.

Despite these achievements, Somaliland has remained diplomatically isolated. No UN member state had formally recognized it prior to Israel’s announcement, largely due to the African Union’s strong adherence to the principle of preserving colonial-era borders. For decades, international actors have preferred to support Somalia’s territorial unity, fearing that recognition of Somaliland could encourage other secessionist movements across the........

© Blitz