Israel has become the first country to recognize the independence of Somaliland, an autonomous region within Somalia’s internationally recognized borders.
Somaliland declared independence in 1991 and has operated as a de facto independent state for decades, though it doesn’t control all of the territory it claims. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi on Friday and signed a declaration recognizing the Republic of Somaliland as a “sovereign and independent state.”
Earlier this year, Somaliland was named in reports as one of the African governments the US and Israel had contact with about potentially moving Palestinians in Gaza to its territory to achieve Israel’s goal of ethnic cleansing, raising concerns from Arab states that the recognition could be related to Israel’s designs for the Strip.
According to The Associated Press, a joint statement from more than 20 mostly Middle Eastern or African countries and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) affirmed “the full rejection of any potential link between such measure and any attempts to forcibly expel the Palestinian people out of their land.”
Israel’s recognition of Somaliland could also serve its military interests, including the possibility of using one of Somaliland’s ports on the Gulf of Aden as a base of operations for future attacks on Yemen.
In November, the Israeli think tank National Security Studies said Somaliland 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.”
Abdul Malik al-Houthi, leader of Yemen’s Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, condemned Israel’s recognition and said any Israeli presence in Somaliland would be considered a “military target for our armed forces, as it constitutes aggression against Somalia and Yemen and a threat to regional security that requires decisive measures.”
Somaliland has reportedly offered the US access to its ports and mineral resources in exchange for recognition. President Trump was asked if the US would follow Israel’s lead and recognize Somaliland, and said “no,” but added that he would “study” the issue.
“Does anyone know what Somaliland is, really?” Trump told The New York Post. “Everything is under study … We’ll study it. I study a lot of things and always make great decisions, and they turn out to be correct.”
President Trump has overseen this year a record-breaking number of US airstrikes in Somalia, which have included strikes targeting al-Shabaab in southern Somalia in support of the Mogadishu-based Federal Government, which strongly opposes Somaliland independence and condemned Israel’s recognition. The US has also been backing the government of Somalia’s Puntland region, which withdrew from the federal system, in a war against an ISIS affiliate, giving the US military access to Bossaso, a port city on the Gulf of Aden.
Just one airstrike the US launched this year was conducted in territory claimed by Somaliland. A September 13 US strike hit a car in the Sanag region, west of Puntland, killing a civilian clan leader who was known for his peace efforts, according to family members, local officials, and a committee that investigated the airstrike. AFRICOM claimed he was an al-Shabaab weapons dealer, but has provided no evidence to back up the assertion.
Israel’s recognition of Somaliland could stoke more conflict inside Somalia. The statement from the OIC and more than 20 countries warned of the “serious repercussions of such unprecedented measure on peace and security in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea and its serious effects on international peace and security as a whole.”
