Somaliland president hails Israel’s recognition, cites shared history and security ties

[Deeq A.]

 

Somaliland president hails Israel’s recognition, cites shared history and security ties

15 January, 2026

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Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro said Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland marked a historic breakthrough for the territory’s long quest for international legitimacy, citing shared history, security cooperation and regional strategic interests.

In an opinion article published by The Wall Street Journal, Irro wrote that “Israel made history on Dec. 26 by recognizing my country,” calling the move a “critical step toward securing our rightful place in the international community.”

Somaliland, which has operated as a de facto state for more than 30 years with its own government, currency and security forces, has long sought international recognition but remains officially considered part of Somalia by the United Nations and most governments.

Irro said Israel’s recognition was rooted not only in present-day strategic interests but also in what he described as a “moral bond forged during Somaliland’s darkest chapter”.

He accused Barre’s regime of carrying out a campaign of mass violence against Somaliland’s population, writing that “more than 200,000 civilians were killed” and that 90% of Hargeisa, the capital, was destroyed — a period he referred to as the “Hargeisa Holocaust.”

“While much of the world remained silent, Israel raised the alarm at the United Nations in May 1990,” Irro wrote, saying Israel drew attention to what he described as systematic persecution of Somalilanders.

Irro framed the renewed relationship in strategic terms, pointing to Somaliland’s location along the Gulf of Aden, one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors. “We control 460 miles of coastline along the Gulf of Aden, through which about 30% of all container ships pass,” he wrote, adding that Somaliland has maintained stability while Somalia continues to battle the Al-Qaeda-linked militant group Al-Shabaab.

He said Somaliland’s U.K.-trained coast guard has kept its waters free of piracy and that these capabilities align with “Israeli and broader Western security interests.”

The president also highlighted economic cooperation, citing a $442 million investment by Dubai-based DP World to modernize the Port of Berbera, and said Israeli trade and technical partnerships could support growth in agriculture, technology and maritime services. For Irro, Israel’s recognition could help unlock broader international acceptance, particularly in Africa.

He pointed to a 2005 African Union fact-finding mission that concluded Somaliland’s case should be assessed “from an objective historical viewpoint and a moral angle” rather than dismissed over fears of encouraging separatism elsewhere on the continent. “One of the proudest moments of my presidency will undoubtedly be listening to Somaliland’s national anthem as we inaugurate our first official embassy, in Israel,” Irro wrote.

While acknowledging that wider recognition may take time, he suggested Israel’s move could encourage others to follow. “Many countries in Africa and beyond have long sympathized with the moral and legal foundations of Somaliland’s case and have been waiting for a first mover,” he wrote. “Now, Israel has taken this bold step.”

Israel was the first country to officially recognize Somaliland, a move that triggered widespread diplomatic shockwaves. Somaliland celebrated the recognition as a significant diplomatic breakthrough, insisting that it would open new doors in its long-standing quest for international legitimacy. However, the recognition was not without controversy. Somalia denounced the move as “illegal,” accusing Israel of violating international law and undermining Somalia’s sovereignty. The Somalia’s president Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud and his administration have argued that Israel’s recognition of Somaliland is part of a broader strategy to displace Palestinians from their territory and establish a military foothold in Somaliland. Somaliland officials, however, have repeatedly denied any discussions or agreements involving Palestinians.

Source Geeska

Qaran News