A territory separated from Somalia since 1991, it covers around 175 thousand square kilometers, an area similar to that of Uruguay; decision is criticized by Red Sea countries
Israel announced this Friday (26) the recognition of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state. The region, which separated from Somalia in 1991, had not been officially recognized by any other country until now. Located in the extreme northwest of Somalia, Somaliland is around 175,000 square kilometers — an area similar to that of Uruguay — and has operated autonomously since the fall of dictator Siad Barre’s regime, when Somalia entered a period of political and institutional collapse.
In a statement, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that it now considers Somaliland a sovereign country. The local president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdulahi, known as Irro, called the decision “a historic moment”. Despite the lack of international recognition so far, Somaliland maintains relative political and institutional stability, in contrast to Somalia, which has been facing the insurgency of the Islamist group Al Shabab and internal political disputes for years.
Diplomatic and economic isolation has always been one of the region’s main obstacles, despite its strategic location at the entrance to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a fundamental route for global maritime trade that connects the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal. The Israeli announcement generated a strong regional reaction. Somalia, Djibouti, Egypt and Türkiye condemned the decision, pointing out risks to the stability of the Red Sea.
The measure takes place in a context of increased tensions in the Middle East since Hamas’ attack on Israel, on October 7, 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza. Since then, Israel has faced clashes on multiple fronts, including attacks by Yemen’s Huthi rebels, who control coastal areas close to Somaliland.
Turkey harshly criticized the initiative and accused Israel of adopting an “expansionist policy” and interfering in Somalia’s internal affairs. In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry stated that the recognition represents “another example of illegal actions by the Netanyahu government, with the potential to generate regional and global instability”.
