Reuters
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Israel on Friday became the first country to formally recognize the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as an independent sovereign state. The decision could reshape regional power relations and test Somalia’s longstanding opposition to secession.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will seek immediate cooperation with Somaliland in agriculture, health, technology and economy. In a statement, he congratulated Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, praised his leadership and invited him to visit Israel.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said the declaration was “based on the spirit of the Abraham Accords, which were signed at the initiative of President Trump.”
The 2020 agreement was brokered by the first Trump administration and included Israel establishing formal diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, with other countries later joining.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Somaliland President signed a joint declaration of mutual recognition, according to an Israeli statement.
Abdullahi said in a statement that Somaliland will join the Abraham Accords, calling it a step towards peace in the region and the world. He said Somaliland is committed to building partnerships, promoting mutual prosperity and promoting stability across the Middle East and Africa.
But Somalia’s government condemned Israel’s move as an “illegal step” and a “deliberate attack” on its sovereignty, and rejected any recognition of Somaliland, according to a statement from the prime minister’s office.
“The Federal Government affirms its determination to pursue all necessary diplomatic, political and legal measures in accordance with international law to protect the sovereignty, unity and internationally recognized borders of the Federal Government,” the statement said.
Egypt said Foreign Minister Badr Abdellatti held a telephone conversation on Friday with the foreign ministers of Somalia, Turkey and Djibouti to discuss what it called dangerous developments in the Horn of Africa following Israel’s announcement.
According to Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ministers condemned Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, reaffirmed their full support for Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity, and warned that recognition of the breakaway region poses a threat to international peace and security.
The African Union also rejected any recognition of Somaliland and reaffirmed its “unwavering commitment” to Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity, warning that such a move risks undermining peace and stability across the continent, the AU Commission chairman said.
Somaliland has enjoyed effective autonomy and relative peace and stability since 1991, when Somalia descended into civil war, but the breakaway region is not recognized by any other country.
Somalia has long rallied international actors against any country recognizing Somaliland.
The former British protectorate hopes recognition by Israel will encourage other countries to follow suit and give it greater diplomatic influence and access to international markets.
Somalia and Somaliland denied in March that they had received any offer from the United States or Israel to resettle Palestinians from Gaza, and Mogadishu said it categorically rejected such a move.
