By Nuh Mohamed - Reporter
HARGEISA (Dawan) Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Somaliland on its May 18 anniversary in a phone call with President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi ‘Irro’, Somaliland’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said.
In a statement, the ministry said the two officials also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening relations and cooperation between Somaliland and Israel.
“The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation and relations between Somaliland and Israel,” the statement said.
The phone call came as Somaliland marked May 18, the date it commemorates its 1991 declaration of separation from Somalia.
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Although Israel sent a congratulatory message, there has so far been no major standalone statement or extensive coverage from the Israeli government or media specifically focused on Somaliland’s 35th anniversary celebrations.
The development nevertheless drew attention because of growing discussion in recent months over reported diplomatic engagement between Somaliland and Israel.Taiwan, a self-governing entity with limited international recognition, also sent congratulatory messages to Somaliland marking the anniversary.
Somaliland and Taiwan have developed closer ties in recent years, including the establishment of representative offices and cooperation agreements, a relationship that has repeatedly drawn criticism and diplomatic reactions from China.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in May 1991 but remains internationally unrecognized, while Somalia continues to regard Somaliland as part of its sovereign territory.