Israel Becomes First to Recognize Africa's Breakaway Somaliland as a State

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gidon Sa'ar, and Somaliland leader Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi signed an agreement. Israel has declared Somaliland as a recognized state, becoming the first country to recognize the self-declared Somaliland in Eastern Africa as an "independent and sovereign state."

The governments of Turkey, Egypt, Somalia, and Djibouti have strongly condemned Israel’s initiative, accusing Tel Aviv of expansionist policies and interfering in Somalia’s internal affairs.

Somaliland Autonomous Region, considered part of Somalia, declared independence in 1991. It has yet to be recognized by the international community.