Jerusalem — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that Israel has officially recognized the Republic of Somaliland as an independent state, according to a statement released by his office.
The announcement followed the signing of a joint agreement between Netanyahu and the President of Somaliland, Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdallah. Netanyahu’s office said the agreement is rooted in the framework of the Abraham Accords, the U.S.-brokered normalization initiative launched under former President Donald Trump.
In a statement, Netanyahu said Israel would be the first country to formally recognize Somaliland, aside from Taiwan. Israeli media reports further indicated that Somaliland has agreed to accept Palestinian refugees from Gaza, though no official details of such arrangements were immediately released.
“I congratulated the President of Somaliland and commended his leadership and commitment to promoting stability and peace,” Netanyahu said in a post on social media. He added that he had invited President Abdallah to make an official visit to Israel.
According to Netanyahu, the President of Somaliland welcomed the recognition and expressed appreciation for Israel’s efforts in counterterrorism and regional peace initiatives.
Netanyahu also thanked Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Mossad Director David Barnea, and Israel’s intelligence services for their role in facilitating the agreement.
The Prime Minister stated that Israel plans to rapidly expand bilateral relations with Somaliland, with cooperation expected in agriculture, healthcare, technology, and economic development.
Somaliland, a self-declared republic in the Horn of Africa, has sought international recognition since breaking away from Somalia in 1991, though it has not been formally recognized by the United Nations.
