Israel on Friday formally recognised Somaliland as an "independent and sovereign state" and signed an agreement to establish diplomatic ties, as the region's leader hailed its first official recognition.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "announced today the official recognition of the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state", his office said, making Israel the first country to do so.
"The declaration is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords," Mr Netanyahu's office said, referring to agreements that established relations between Israel and Arab countries brokered by US President Donald Trump during his first presidency. The president of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, hailed the move, saying it marked the beginning of a "strategic partnership".
"This is a historic moment as we warmly welcome ... the Prime Minister of the State of Israel's recognition of the Republic of Somaliland and affirm Somaliland's readiness to join the Abraham Accords", he posted on X. Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has for decades pushed for international recognition, and it has been the overriding priority for Mr Abdullahi since he took office last year.
The Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the two countries had agreed to establish "full diplomatic ties, which will include the appointment of ambassadors and the opening of embassies".
"I have instructed my ministry to act immediately to institutionalise ties between the two countries across a wide range of fields," he said in a statement on X. Mr Netanyahu's office said he had invited Mr Abdullahi to visit Israel and that the president thanked him "for his historic decla
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