Israel Recognizes Somaliland as State: ‘Spirit of Abraham Accords’
Israel formally recognized Somaliland as an independent, sovereign state on Friday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling the move “historic” and saying it reflects a shared commitment to stability, peace and regional cooperation “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords.”
The announcement came Friday as Netanyahu signed a joint declaration alongside Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, formally establishing mutual recognition and full diplomatic relations between the two sides.
Speaking by telephone with Abdillahi while signing the declaration, Netanyahu called it a “wonderful day” and said Israel intended to expand cooperation with Somaliland in the areas of economic development, agriculture and social development, while inviting the president to make an official visit to Israel “at your convenience.”
Abdillahi hailed the move as a “great historic day,” accepted Netanyahu’s invitation and said he would travel to Jerusalem as soon as arrangements were finalized.
In a later statement, Netanyahu said the declaration was made “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords,” the normalization framework initiated by President Donald Trump, and confirmed that he would convey Somaliland’s desire to rejoin the accords directly to Trump.
Netanyahu is expected to meet with Donald Trump in person on Monday at Mar-a-Lago, where the leaders are expected to discuss Gaza, Iran and broader regional developments.
Netanyahu praised Abdillahi’s leadership and thanked Sa’ar, Mossad Director David Barnea and Israeli intelligence for pushing forward the breakthrough.
The Somaliland government issued an official statement welcoming Israel’s decision, saying it “warmly welcomes and deeply appreciates the historic and principled decision of the State of Israel” and calling the recognition an important step in its “long-standing quest for international legitimacy”, while reaffirming its record as a stable and democratic partner in the Horn of Africa.
Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted the current momentum, writing: “Somaliland’s moment has arrived. Momentum is building. Stay tuned for official announcements.”
Sa’ar said the agreement followed “extensive and continuous dialogue” over the past year and formally established comprehensive diplomatic relations, including the appointment of ambassadors and the opening of embassies, adding that his ministry had been instructed to act immediately to institutionalize ties in a wide range of areas.
The declaration commits both sides to expanding cooperation in agriculture, health, technology and economics, as Israel strives to deepen its engagement in Africa and along key maritime corridors.
Somaliland’s location along the Gulf of Aden, close to one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, has long given it strategic importance for regional security, trade and counterterrorism cooperation.
Somaliland has operated as a de facto independent state since its separation from Somalia in 1991, maintaining relative stability and democratic governance despite the unrest plaguing the region as a whole, although it faces sustained international opposition to its formal recognition, led by Mogadishu.
As Breitbart News reported in September, House China Committee Chairman John Moolenaar and Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) urged the State Department to distinguish Somaliland from Somalia in U.S. travel advisories, arguing that the move would reflect realities on the ground and strengthen U.S. strategic interests in the Horn of Africa while countering growing Chinese influence.
The push followed a separate call from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who urged President Trump to formally recognize Somaliland, citing its democratic governance, pro-Israel stance, and strategic value in countering Chinese and Iranian influence in a volatile region.
Joshua Klein is a reporter for Breitbart News. Email him at jklein@breitbart.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaKlein.
