Overview
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi signed a mutual recognition declaration that includes appointing ambassadors and opening embassies.
- Israel said it will quickly expand cooperation with Somaliland across agriculture, health, technology and the economy.
- Somalia’s government condemned the step as a violation of international law, as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud addressed an emergency parliamentary session and noted uncertainty over the borders Israel recognized.
- Turkey and Iraq issued formal condemnations, the EU urged respect for Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity, and regional states including Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Qatar voiced support for Somalia.
- Yemen’s Houthi movement said it will regard any Israeli presence in Somaliland as a military target, while Israel’s UN mission said the Security Council will hold an emergency discussion on December 29.