By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
6 January 2026 - Israel’s unprecedented recognition of Somaliland as an independent state has ignited sharp diplomatic backlash from African and Middle Eastern capitals, with the African Union (AU) demanding the recognition be revoked and Somalia condemning it as a violation of its sovereignty, underscoring the deep regional and global implications of this historic yet contentious step.
On December 27, 2025, Israel became the first United Nations member state to formally recognise Somaliland, a self-declared republic that has operated independently from Somalia since 1991 but has never before secured formal recognition from any country.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the move was consistent with the spirit of the Abraham Accords, and signalled plans to establish full diplomatic ties, including embassies and ambassadorial appointments in both Jerusalem and Hargeisa.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar then visited Somaliland on January 6, 2026, meeting with President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi and deepening bilateral commitments across areas such as health, technology and agriculture, a thawing of diplomatic isolation for the breakaway territory.
But the move was met with furious international resistance, especially from Somalia and the AU, which insists that Somaliland remains an integral part of Somalia and that unilateral recognitions undermine continental norms and regional stability.
AU Condemns Recognition, Calls for Immediate Revocation
On Tuesday, the African Union’s Political Affairs Peace and Security Council demanded that Israel withdraw its recognition of the “so-called Republic of Somaliland,” issuing a statement on social media accusing Tel Aviv of a “unilateral” and “dangerous” act that threatens African sovereignty.
The AU’s stance echoes a longstanding position reaffirmed by its commission chair, that any attempt to redraw borders in Africa contravenes the 1964 OAU/AU principle on the inviolability of inherited borders, a linchpin of continental peace and prevention of secessionist conflicts.
Somalia’s federal government amplified the criticism, decrying Israel’s actions as a breach of international law and a direct threat to its territorial integrity.
Mogadishu’s foreign ministry has urged regional and global organisations, including the United Nations, to uphold Somalia’s recognised borders and reject any independent status for Somaliland.
Why Somaliland Matters: A Strategic Crossroads
Understanding the fallout requires recognising why Somaliland is geopolitically sought after.
Somaliland sits at the junction of the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, adjacent to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors linking Europe and the Middle East with Asia.
Its Berbera port lies just south of critical shipping routes that funnel global oil, goods and container traffic.
That geography has attracted intense international interest:
Security and counter-terrorism:The Red Sea corridor has become increasingly volatile amid Houthi militia attacks on commercial shipping, and countries like Israel have framed partnerships with Somaliland as part of broader efforts to ensure maritime security.
Strategic alignment: Somaliland has a reputation for relative stability and self-governance in contrast with decades of conflict in southern Somalia.
That has made it attractive for diplomatic engagement, infrastructure investment, and potential security cooperation, including access to Berbera for intelligence and logistical support.
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Economic potential: Beyond ports, Somaliland’s territory boasts resources and renewable energy promise, and its airspace and logistics corridors could unlock new regional trade patterns if political constraints shift.
Landlocked Ethiopia has also eyed Somaliland’s coastline as a strategic gateway to the sea and has previously discussed port and logistics agreements in exchange for recognition, a deal that contributed to regional tensions in 2024.
Regional Backlash and Diplomatic Ripple Effects
Israel’s move struck a nerve across Africa and the wider Muslim world.
The AU’s demand to revoke the recognition is part of an organized rejection that includes statements from Egypt, Turkey and the Gulf Cooperation Council, all condemning what they call an infringement on Somalia’s sovereignty and a dangerous precedent for separatist movements globally.
International bodies such as IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) have also rejected the recognition, framing it as a violation of international law and a threat to Horn of Africa stability.
Meanwhile, debates have raged at the United Nations Security Council, where Somalia has articulated its opposition, warning that the recognition could destabilise not just the Horn, but global peace and security by incentivising other breakaway claims.
The Domestic Dimension: Somaliland’s Quest for Legitimacy
For many in Hargeisa, Israel’s recognition is a long-awaited validation of decades of effective self-rule and democratic nation-building, something that previous presidencies in Somaliland have relentlessly pursued.
The development was greeted by public celebrations in the capital, even as African capitals sounded alarms about its implications.
However, Somaliland’s leadership has denied that the recognition involves plans for foreign military bases or relocation of populations, assertions that critics had seized upon to heighten fears of regional instability.
A New Chessboard in the Horn of Africa?
The diplomatic clash is broader than border recognition. It reflects shifting geopolitical fault lines in the Horn of Africa and the wider Middle East:
Israel’s expanding outreach in Africa at a time of isolation over Gaza has re-energised diplomatic manoeuvring in a region where strategic waterways intersect with global trade.
African institutions are reinforcing norms that prioritise territorial integrity and collective security, a stance that could test alliances and pressure governments reconsider foreign engagements.
Regional powers such as Ethiopia, Egypt and Turkey are recalibrating their positions, balancing strategic interests with pressure from alliance networks and domestic politics.
As the debate unfolds, the move by Israel, and the AU’s strong rebuttal, highlights how territorial recognition can resonate far beyond symbolic diplomacy, reshaping alliances, fanning regional tensions and driving new contestations over sovereignty, security and international law.
