Israel today recognized Somaliland as an independent and sovereign country. Somaliland, internationally recognized part of Somalia, has been struggling for recognition for decades.
Israel is the first country to recognize Somaliland. Somaliland is situated in the strategic Horn of Africa. It is located on the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden. Since 1991, Somaliland has been governed by democratically elected governments that have been seeking international recognition. Somalia considers Somaliland as its part. However its efforts to incorporate Somaliland into mainland Somalia could not succeed.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, taking Somaliland President Abdirahman Irro on video call, announced this evening that he had signed the declaration to recognize Somaliland as a country. Somaliland President welcomed it and thanked Israeli Prime Minister. Interestingly, Somalia does not recognize Israel as a country.
It remains to be seen how US and Somalia will react to this development. Somalia is set to reject the recognition. US, though supports one-Somalia policy, has recently been exerting pressure on the government of Somalia threatening to reduce military support for Somalia’s government in the fight against Somalia-based extremist group Al Shabaab.
Interestingly, Somaliland has huge footprints of the United Arab Emirates. UAE has constructed Berbera port in Somaliland. UAE and Israel and emerging as allies in the Horn of Africa. Another key partner in this alliance is Ethiopia.
Last year, landlocked Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding to recognize Somaliland as a country in return for getting sea access through Somaliland. It was due to massive resistance put up by Somalia that Ethiopia could not implement the MoU.
It seems that Israel will not be the only country to give recognition to Somaliland. Other countries could follow suit.