Somaliland, in red, NW of Somalia, NE of Ethiopia, on the Gulf of Aden

As reported in the BBC, here, Israel has recognized Somaliland as an independent country. While appearing “radical,” and opposed by Turkey, Russia, and China, this is actually recognizing the facts on the ground. Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991.Since then Somaliland has governed itself as an independent state. Israel is the third state, after Ethiopia and Taiwan to recognize Somaliland. And UAE has informally recognized Somaliland. (OrfOnline, here). 

Following recognition Ethiopia and Taiwan, recognition by Israel should encourage other nations to follow suit, increasing Somaliland’s diplomatic credentials and giving it greater access to international markets.

For more information: Business Standard, here.

As Alex Stein wrote, in Love of the Land, on Substack, here,

The strategic reasons for Israel’s recognition of Somaliland are clear. It will provide the country with a forward base for countering the Houthis in Yemen and Turkish expansion into Somalia, while deepening its own alliance with the United Arab Emirates.

Somaliland’s President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi has promised that his country would join the Abraham Accords, in a step toward regional and global peace.

Relations between Israel and Somaliland obviously benefit both countries, Europe, and the Americas as Somaliland’s proximity to Yemen – south across the Gulf of Aden – provides cover and protection of ships from Houthis and Somali pirates as they sail into or out from the Red Sea.