Overview
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi signed a joint declaration of mutual recognition that includes plans to open embassies and appoint ambassadors.
- Israel said cooperation with Somaliland would begin immediately in agriculture, health, technology and the economy, and Abdullahi welcomed the step as the start of a strategic partnership.
- Somaliland signaled it will seek to join the Abraham Accords, describing the recognition as a contribution to regional and global peace.
- Somalia condemned the decision as a violation of its sovereignty and said it would pursue diplomatic, political and legal measures, while the African Union warned of a dangerous precedent for continental stability.
- More than 20 governments along with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the EU rejected the recognition and backed Somalia’s unity, as the U.S. State Department reaffirmed Somalia’s territorial integrity and Israeli analysts highlighted Red Sea security considerations, including monitoring Yemen’s Houthis.