(Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN / AFP)Israel on Friday formally recognised Somaliland as an “independent and sovereign state” and signed an agreement to establish diplomatic ties, as the region’s leader hailed its first-ever official recognition. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “announced today the official recognition of the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state”, his office said, making Israel the first country to do so. The president of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, hailed the move, saying it marked the beginning of a “strategic partnership”. Israel has been trying to bolster relations with countries in the Middle East and Africa. Historic agreements struck late in Trump’s first term in 2020 saw several countries, including Muslim-majority United Arab Emirates and Morocco, normalise relations with Israel.

Source: Punch December 26, 2025 18:14 UTC