On December 26, 2025, Israel took an unexpected, and feared by many, step in becoming the first United Nations member state to formally recognize the Republic of Somaliland as a Sovereign State. The announcement, made by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, came at the end of a long year of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East as well as Africa.

Somaliland, a self declared republic in Northeast Africa, has existed controversially independent from Somalia since 1991. However, the republic has long been denied formal diplomatic recognition. For years, its leaders have lobbied across the world, but never thought that Israel would provide the support they needed. Somaliland urgently wants recognition from any state. From Israel, it could mean diplomatic legitimacy, security, advancements in technology and agriculture. Netanyahu pursued this initiative in the spirit of continuing the Abraham Accords to promote regional and global peace and deepen ties beyond the Red Sea.

But why did Israel make the move?........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)