Behind Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, strategic, geopolitical interests at work

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Somaliland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, praised his leadership and invited him to visit Israel. He said that the declaration “is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, signed at the initiative of President Trump.”

I announced today the official recognition of the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state.

Together with Foreign Minister Sa’ar and the President of the Republic of Somaliland, we signed a joint and mutual declaration.

This declaration is in the spirit of… pic.twitter.com/WlZuN1HB5z

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) December 26, 2025

Interestingly, the US president has opposed American recognition of the breakaway state. In an interview with The New York Post on Friday, and said, “Does anyone know what Somaliland is, really?”

Here is what to know.

First, a brief history of Somaliland

The present-day republic claims itself the legal successor of the erstwhile British Somaliland or the Somaliland Protectorate. It comprised self-ruled sultanates under British protectorate between 1884 and 1920 before coming under the Crown’s jurisdiction. It was formally established as a British colony in 1920.

British Somaliland gained independence and became the State of Somaliland, which existed for five days between June 26 and July 1, 1960. The state then voluntarily merged with the former Trust Territory of Somaliland, its Italian-administered neighbour, to form the Somali Republic (1960-69). This nation collapsed after a military coup, and the Somali Democratic Republic formed, with General Siad Barre as the leader.

Over the next 21 years, the general set out to make Somalia a socialist state with “Somalisation,” an effort to create a “dutiful Somali” country free of clan loyalties. He would go on to earn one of Africa’s worst human rights records, especially with oppressive policies against the Isaaq, the dominant clan in the present-day Somaliland region.

In 1988, Barre brutally crushed a rebellion by the Somali National Movement (SNM), a pro-independence outfit against his policies, killing 50,000 to 200,000 civilians and causing an exodus of over 300,000 to Ethiopia.

The SNM prevailed in its struggle against Barre’s regime and unseated him in 1991, declaring independence. The present-day Somaliland came under SNM’s control and was formally established in 1991.

Today, the republic has a population of nearly six million, and enjoys significant regional autonomy, given that it has its own money, passports and police force. However, it has not been officially recognised by any country in the world thus far, barring Israel.

So, why is Israel interested in Somaliland?

Israel’s decision to recognise Somaliland is strategic. On one hand, it has long tried to improve relations with its neighbours in West Asia and Africa, but its continued war with Palestine and incursions into neighbouring countries like Iran have proven to be widely unpopular.

This is where the Abraham Accords come in. Introduced in Trump’s first term in 2020, several countries which had long opposed relations with Israel, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Morocco, normalised relations with it. (Saudi Arabia, a key US ally, has not signed the accords, under the condition that Israel end its conflict with Gaza and assent to a two-state solution with an “irreversible, credible, and time-bound path” to an independent Palestinian state.)

On the other hand, Somaliland presents a unique opportunity: The region occupies a strategic position along the Gulf of Aden, opening up a potential avenue for trade. Its official seaport, the Berbera Port, is situated at the confluence of the Red Sea and the Arab Sea, making it part of a vital global shipping route.

The UAE also operates a military port and airstrip in Berbera, which is believed to be a key part of its efforts against Houthi militants in the region. In this regard, Somaliland’s proximity to Yemen is significant, given that Houthis control parts of the latter.

According to a report by Israeli think tank, the Institute for National Security Studies, “Somaliland’s territory could serve as a forward base for multiple missions: intelligence monitoring of the Houthis and their armament efforts; logistical support for Yemen’s legitimate government in its war against them; and a platform for direct operations against the Houthis.”

Another consideration might be a potential attempt to resettle Palestinians, even as Israel increases its occupation of Palestinian territory, such as Gaza and the West Bank. Both Somalia and Somaliland had refuted previous reports of such a proposal earlier this year.

Finally, Somaliland is among a handful of countries that recognise Taiwan, much to China’s consternation. Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (RoC), is self-administered and views itself as a sovereign state, while the People’s Republic of China (PRC) sees Taiwan as a breakaway province to be “reunified” with the mainland as part of its One China policy. Notably, China has a major presence in Africa, operating a military port in neighbouring Djibouti. Israel’s recognition of Somaliland could thus provide it (as well as the US) a way to monitor Chinese activity in the Horn of Africa region, and counter growing Chinese influence.