In a move that shifts the geopolitical landscape of the Horn of Africa, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially recognized the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state on Friday, December 26, 2025.
The announcement occurred during a live virtual ceremony between Netanyahu, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, and Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi. During the broadcast, Netanyahu signed the official declaration of recognition, stating that the relationship between the two nations is “seminal and historic.”
Israel is the first UN member state to formally recognize Somaliland’s sovereignty since it declared independence in 1991.
