Of
Alessandra Muglia
The breakaway Somali territory has obtained its first official recognition as a sovereign state after thirty years thanks to Israel which will try to convince a reluctant Trump to follow it
“Does anyone actually know what Somaliland is?” he asked provocatively Donald Trump asked about the possible US recognition of this separatist territory of Somalia after Israel on Friday became the first country in the world to officially recognize it as an “independent and sovereign state”. No, Washington does not intend to follow Tel Aviv in thisthe tycoon clarified in an interview with the New York Post, stating that he will still “study” the proposal of his historic ally in the Middle East in favor of the separatist republic. And so Somaliland, this “unknown”, will land on the table at Mar-a-Lago tomorrow to raise the tension between Trump and Netanyahu in a face-to-face that already promises to be uphill in Gaza.
To try to mollify the American president, the Israeli prime minister framed his move by referring to the «spirit of the Abraham Accords» promoted by the tycoon himself during his first mandate which led the Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan to establish diplomatic relations with Israel. «I will communicate to President Trump your willingness and desire to join the Abraham Accords» Netanyahu told Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi in a video call to celebrate the diplomatic breakthrough.
In reality by forging ties with Somaliland, Above all, Israel hopes to gain a foothold in the Horn of Africa in order to be able to more easily strike the Houthis in Yemen, allies of Iran and declared enemies of the Jewish state. Unconfirmed reports also speak of a “plan to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to Somaliland.”
Certainly this strip of land just over half the size of Italy offers Tel Aviv a major geographical advantage: a coastline of 800 kilometers overlooking the Gulf of Aden and a strategic position at the meeting point between the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, close to the Bab al Mandab Strait, a vital artery for global commercial and energy traffic.
The Israeli attack on Gaza and the subsequent Houthi raids against commercial ships have turned the spotlight of international politics back on the Gulf of Aden. Somaliland’s geographic location makes it a key playerespecially for Western players, both for the control of the Red Sea and for the projection towards the Indo-Pacific.
In over thirty years this separatist territory had never managed to obtain any formal recognition from the international community. A former British protectorate, Somaliland declared its independence in 1991when Somalia descended into chaos after the fall of the military regime of They barre. Since then, this self-proclaimed republic has operated with its own currency, its own army and its own police force, often setting itself on a collision course with Mogadishu.
Now Somalia’s government has condemned Israel’s move as an “illegal step” and a “deliberate attack” on its sovereignty. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud spoke of “an illegal aggression” and “contrary to diplomatic norms”.
The choice sparked predictable condemnation from the Arab world in particular from Djibouti, Egypt and Türkiye, which speak of “blatant interference” in Somali affairs. Clear rejection of Israel’s unilateral gesture also by the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Arab League and the African Union. The president of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Yousouf, reiterated “the organisation’s commitment to the unity of Somalia” and described the act as contrary to EU principles, which risks creating a “dangerous precedent”, with significant consequences for peace and stability across the continent.
While the Muslim world condemns Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, one country remains silent: the United Arab Emirates, signatories of the Abraham Accords, they refrained from pronouncing any condemnation.
Moreover, it was Abu Dhabi itself that supported the first de facto recognition of the sovereignty of Somaliland when it supported, even financially, the decision ofEthiopia to negotiate directly with Somaliland authorities for permission to build a naval base on its coast. And even Addis Ababa is now, predictably, silent.
December 28, 2025 (changed December 28, 2025 | 1:55 pm)
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