Israel's recognition of Somaliland, a new factor on the geostrategic board of the Horn of Africa
Israel's acceptance of Somaliland, in addition to fueling decades of secessionist conflict, incorporates an unstable new piece into the complex geostrategic table of alliances and hostilities in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East.
Video conference between Netanyahu and Somaliland President Photo: @netanyahu
The recognition by Israel of the semi-autonomous region of Somaliland has put this region, located in northern Somalia and self-proclaimed a republic in 1991 , back into the spotlight. Somaliland declared independence after the fall of the Siad Bar regime in Somalia, but Israel has been the first to accept the legality of this decision.
Netanyahu has presented the decision as an extension of the "Spirit of the Abraham Accords", which has caused a diplomatic earthquake at international level. In addition to the firm rejection of the Somali government, it has provoked the rejection of the entire international community by supporting Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Netanyahu informed Somaliland President Mohamed Abdulahi directly of his decision by telephone Abdirahman in an attempt by Israel to promote cooperation in the area . The movement was immediately answered by the Somali government, whose statement was declared "null and void" by Parliament in an extraordinary assembly on the grounds that it was contrary to international law.
Somali President Hasan Sheij Mohamud denounced Israel's "attack" and warned that it could not only "jeopardize the stability" of the region, but could revitalize "extremist elements" such as the Al Shabaab group, linked to al-Qaeda, which has opposed Netanyahu's decision.
Key geostrategic location
This Israeli movement places Somaliland in the midst of a geostrategic debate. Although it is a territory without recognition, it has a functional autonomous government over the past three decades and is considered one of the most stable and democratic regions of Somalia.
The key to Somaliland is its location ,100 kilometers off the Gulf of Aden , just opposite Yemen and very close to the strategic Bab el Mandeb Strait through which a very significant part of the world's maritime trade flows.
There were other controversial agreements prior to this recognition of Israel, since in 2024 Somaliland and Ethiopia signed an understanding agreement whereby Adis Ababa sought access to the sea in exchange for recognition of Somaliland in the future, which has not yet materialized on the ground.
These two treaties are intended to take advantage of the strategic position of the region and have been seen as a direct attack on Somalia's sovereignty.
International reactions and fears
The step taken by Israel has been applauded by the Somaliland authorities, who see it as a historic victory for their independence objectives. But the decision has been rejected by the African Union, the Arab League, Turkey- a strong ally of Mogadishu, with a large military base in the country - Iran, the Palestiniangovernment, the Hamas movement and the Houthi rebelsin Yemen, who place the measure in the geopolitical game that Israel is operating in the area.
One of the main concerns and fearsamong them is that Israel will reach military and security agreements with Somaliland through which military bases willbe built off the coast of Yemen, a country against which Israel has in recent years carried out numerous bombings following the Houthi attack on Israel in response to the genocide in Gaza.
Similarly, the Palestinian authorities and Hamas have warned that the Israeli government may want to relocate the Gaza populationto Somaliland by knocking it down, while the Somaliland authorities have ruled out this possibility being on the table.
Turkey, for its part, is suspicious of Israel's decision - they are fighting each other in Syria - especially because of Turkey's strong investments in Somalia, where Ankara has, for example, the largest military base outside Turkey. Moreover, the Turkish government has strongly supported the Somali army in its fight against Al Shabaab and is one of Mogadishu's main partners.
Israel's acceptance of Somaliland, in addition to fueling decades of secessionist conflict, incorporates an unstable new piece into the complex geostrategic table of alliances and hostilities in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East.
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