Somalia demands Israel rescind recognition of Somaliland

The African Union, Arab states, and Turkiye rejected the recognition of the breakaway region  

News Desk  -  The Cradle 

Somalia’s foreign minister, Ali Omar, has formally demanded that Israel reverse its recognition of Somaliland in comments to Al Jazeera on 27 December. 

Omar described Israel’s move as an act of “state aggression that will never be tolerated” and ”illegal interference" in Somalia’s internal affairs, stressing that Mogadishu would pursue diplomatic avenues to challenge it.

On Friday, Israel became the first country to formally recognize Somaliland, which broke away from Somalia in 1991 but has never been recognized by any UN member state. 

Omar accused Israel of seeking recognition in part to advance plans to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza, a claim echoed by the Palestinian Authority (PA). 

This comes after months of reporting that Israel and the US had quietly engaged Somaliland as a potential destination for Palestinians forcibly displaced from Gaza - alongside Morocco, Puntland State of Somalia - in parallel with discussions tied to diplomatic recognition.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu framed the decision as an expansion of the Abraham Accords,  saying he would champion Somaliland’s case during an upcoming meeting with US President Donald Trump.

African regional bodies, Arab states, Turkiye, and Iran have collectively rejected Israel’s decision, warning that the move violates international law and undermines Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Saudi Arabia voiced its full backing for the “sovereignty of the brotherly Federal Republic of Somalia, and for its unity and territorial integrity."

The African Union (AU) said that Somaliland remains an integral part of Somalia and cautioned that unilateral recognition risks peace and stability on the continent. This position was echoed by the East African bloc IGAD, which said the step contravenes the UN Charter and AU frameworks. 

Somalia’s federal government condemned Israel’s move as unlawful, while Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, and Qatar issued coordinated statements rejecting what they described as separatist measures that threaten regional stability and set a dangerous precedent. 

Turkiye said Israel’s recognition breaches international law and destabilizes the Horn of Africa. Communications Director Burhanettin Duran said it targets Somalia’s unity and reflects what he called the Netanyahu government’s record of genocide and occupation. 

US President Donald Trump told the New York Post that he is not prepared to follow Netanyahu in recognizing Somaliland as an independent state, distancing himself from Israel’s decision and saying the issue remains “under study.”