Breakaway Somaliland in Horn of Africa recognised by become Israel
INTERNATIONAL – AFRICA
1 JANUARY 2026
- Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland came as a surprise to the international community; first for the self-declared republic that broke away from Somalia in 1991.
- The controversial move aligns with the country’s new strategy toward its rivals, especially Iran, by granting Israelis unparalleled access to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
- The move could help Israel militarily against Tehran’s so-called axis of resistance in West Asia, while making the Horn of Africa a new battleground for its rivalries, experts say.
- Israel’s announcement that it viewed Somaliland as an “independent and sovereign state” was a
- It followed discussions held “in the utmost secrecy, involving the Mossad in a para-diplomatic role,” said David Khalfa, a researcher at the Jean-Jaures Foundation in Paris.
- Somaliland enjoys a unique geostrategic importance, as it offers direct access to the Gulf of Aden and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s busiest commercial shipping routes that connects the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
- It is also located in close proximity to the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have struck Israel repeatedly since the start of the Gaza war triggered by Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack.
- The United Arab Emirates operates a military base in the region’s port of Berbera under an agreement dating back to 2017, while sources claim that Abu Dhabi, an ally of Israel, may facilitate Israel’s access to the facility.
- Last year they also entered into negotiations with landlocked Ethiopia, another Israel ally, to build a port on its coast.
- Analysts also point out how Israel’s new alliance in the region is further fuelling the growing rivalry between Israel and Turkey.
- The two countries have been at loggerheads as they both try to expand their influence over Syria, and as Ankara aims to send troops to the Gaza Strip under the U.S.-led International Stabilisation Force.
- Israel has categorically rejected that possibility, highlighting Turkey’s ties with the Islamist group Hamas.
- Turkey has long had a foothold in the Horn of Africa, and views Somalia as a quasi “satellite country.
- So Israel’s alliance with neighbouring Somaliland is poised to open a new front of attrition.
