Somalia slammed Israeli recognition

Kristin Palitza and Sara Lemel

Tel Aviv Cape Town (dpa) — Somalia on Sunday strongly rejected Israel’s formal recognition of Somaliland, a self-declared state in the north of the country that has been virtually independent for decades.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said his government would not accept the move, as it violated Somalia’s sovereignty and unity.

“Somalia will use all available means to defend itself against Israel’s aggression through diplomatic channels” Mohamud said in an address to parliament broadcast on state television.

“[Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu should know that no one can divide our people, and Somaliland belongs to us.”

On Friday, Israel became the first country in the world to recognize Somaliland as a sovereign state. Somaliland, a Muslim-majority region in northern Somalia with only a few million inhabitants, broke away from the country following years of civil war and the collapse of the government in 1991.

Israel’s move came a few days before Somalia takes over the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council.

According to Netanyahu’s office, the recognition was made “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords,” the agreements initiated by US President Donald Trump in 2020 during his first term in office.

As a result, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan normalized their relations with Israel.

Earlier on Sunday, Somaliland Foreign Minister Abdirahman Dahir Adam welcomed Israel’s recognition.

“This recognition is not only a diplomatic milestone, but also a moment of great historical justice and moral clarity,” he told Israeli broadcaster Kan. He stressed that Somaliland had not agreed to take in people from the Gaza Strip in return.

Planned cooperation with Israel

Cooperation with Israel will focus on diplomacy, trade, technology, agriculture, water management, health and security, according to the minister. “Somaliland seeks partnership that is transparent, peaceful and beneficial for both countries.”

Israel’s recognition of Somaliland strengthens the East African republic’s image as a “stable, democratic and responsible state in a fragile region,” the minister said.

Strategic importance of Somaliland

Israeli media pointed out that Somaliland is located not far from the strategically important Bab al-Mandab Strait, where the Yemeni Houthi militia has repeatedly attacked international merchant ships with alleged links to Israel.

The Times of Israel wrote that access to Somaliland’s territory and airspace would make it easier for Israel to carry out attacks against the Houthis and to monitor them.

The UN Security Council is convening an emergency meeting in response to Israel’s decision. Ahead of the meeting scheduled for Monday in New York, 21 predominantly Muslim countries issued a joint statement warning of “serious repercussions” of Israel’s unprecedented action for “peace and security” in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea as well as for international security.

Notes From APS Radio News

For more information about Somaliland’s history, please see the article at The Encyclopedia Britannica.