Overview
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced recognition of Somaliland as an independent state and signed a joint declaration with its president to open embassies and appoint ambassadors.
- Somaliland’s leader welcomed the decision and said the territory intends to join the Abraham Accords.
- Somalia condemned the move as a violation of its sovereignty, and the African Union rejected it as a dangerous precedent for peace and stability across the continent.
- Egypt coordinated a joint response with Turkey, Somalia and Djibouti, the European Union urged respect for Somalia’s unity, and more than 20 countries with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation issued a statement rejecting Israel’s decision.
- The United States did not extend recognition, with the State Department affirming Somalia’s territorial integrity and President Trump saying the U.S. would not recognize Somaliland, while analysts highlighted Somaliland’s Red Sea proximity and the UAE base at Berbera as strategic factors discussed in Israel.