By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Israel on Friday emerged the first nation in the world to formally recognise Somaliland, marking a significant diplomatic breakthrough for the breakaway region in the Horn of Africa.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel and Somaliland had signed a joint declaration establishing full diplomatic relations, describing it as being “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords”, a set of deals brokered by the United States to establish formal ties between Israel and Arab states.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, but it has failed to gain recognition from any United Nations member state.
The region controls the northwestern portion of what was once the British Protectorate in northern Somalia.
Somalia has staunchly opposed Somaliland’s independence, saying it owns the territory. A Somali government the cabinet was due to hold an urgent meeting to deliberate the government’s position on the issue.
Netanyahu congratulated Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known as Abdirahman Cirro, during a video call, praising his “leadership and commitment to promoting stability and peace” and inviting him to visit Israel.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the agreement followed a year of extensive dialogue between the two governments and was based on a joint decision by Netanyahu and Cirro to establish full ties, including the appointment of ambassadors and the opening of embassies in both countries.
“We will work together to promote the relations between our countries and nations, regional stability and economic prosperity,” Saar wrote on social media, adding that he had instructed his ministry to immediately institutionalise ties across a wide range of fields.
The Somaliland President said the move “marks the beginning of a strategic partnership that advances mutual interests, strengthens regional peace and security, and delivers shared benefits to all stakeholders”.
