Published On 18 May 202618 May 2026<\/p>\n
Somaliland has marked its first year of independence following recognition by Israel, but not everyone in the breakaway region of Somalia is celebrating its new ally.<\/p>\n
Thousands gathered in the capital Hargeisa on Monday for a military parade and traditional dances. Excitement was heightened after Israel\u2019s decision in December to recognise Somaliland\u2019s independence \u2013 the first country to do so since autonomy from Somalia was declared in 1991.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomaliland has fulfilled all the requirements of a responsible, peaceful, law-abiding and democratic nation,\u201d President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi told the crowd. \u201cThe question Somaliland asks the world is no longer whether we deserve recognition, but when.\u201d<\/p>\n
Somaliland\u2019s leaders say the territory\u2019s stability, relative democracy and location on the Gulf of Aden \u2013 close to key shipping lanes and conflict-torn Yemen \u2013 make it a strategic military and trading hub.<\/p>\n
They had hoped other partners, including the United States, United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia, would follow Israel\u2019s lead, but recognition has not yet broadened.<\/p>\n
Secession remains highly contentious. The African Union and many international partners oppose formal recognition, fearing it could embolden other separatist movements on the continent.<\/p>\n
Israel\u2019s move has also divided opinion inside Somaliland, and it almost entirely Muslim population. Some in the heartland have embraced the new relationship, with Israeli flags appearing in homes and businesses. Others view the alliance with deep suspicion, especially as Israel continues its war on Gaza.<\/p>\n
Local activists say dozens of people \u2013 including religious scholars and young men carrying Palestinian flags \u2013 have been arrested during protests against the new ties.<\/p>\n
Somaliland also does not fully control the territory it claims. The newly formed North East State of Somalia says some eastern areas fall under its authority. Somaliland forces fought with local clans there in 2023, shelling hospitals, schools, mosques and residential areas. Amnesty International says hundreds or even thousands were killed or wounded, and about 200,000 people displaced.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe conflict will reignite,\u201d warned Ahmed Ali Shire, a North East State member of parliament from Las Anod, a city still bearing the scars of recent fighting. He said Israel\u2019s involvement risks repeating the foreign interference that fuelled Somalia\u2019s civil war in the 1980s.<\/p>\n
In Hargeisa, enthusiasm is stronger but not unanimous. Resident Dahir Omar Bile, 42, fears Israel\u2019s conduct in Gaza will damage Somaliland\u2019s search for wider recognition.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomaliland fought hard for its independence but I can\u2019t trust [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu. He\u2019s killed children the same age as my own,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Many also worry about reprisals. Yemen\u2019s Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, have threatened to strike Somaliland if Israel establishes an expected military presence there.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Houthi threats have many people scared,\u201d Bile said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Published On 18 May 202618 May 2026 Somaliland has marked its first year of independence following recognition by…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":119896,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[33],"tags":[3496,289,37,42,7586],"class_list":["post-119895","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-israel","tag-africa","tag-gallery","tag-israel","tag-news","tag-somalia"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@iran\/116597088779720102","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119895","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=119895"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119895\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/119896"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=119895"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=119895"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=119895"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}