Why did Israel recognize the independence of the breakaway African state?

Israel has made the controversial decision to recognize the breakaway state of Somaliland as an independent nation, drawing condemnation from many other countries.

China is the latest to condemn the move, with its Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian telling reporters: “No country should encourage or support the internal separatist forces of other countries for its own selfish interests.” »

China outlined its position ahead of an emergency session of the UN Security Council to discuss Israel’s decision.

Israel on Friday became the first country in the world to recognize Somaliland as an autonomous republic, more than 30 years after the region declared independence from Somalia.

Somaliland’s president called the development a “historic moment”, but Somalia furiously rejected Israel’s move, calling it an attack on its sovereignty.

Dozens of countries and organizations, such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the African Union, also condemned Israel’s surprise statement.

A semi-desert separatist territory located on the Gulf of Aden coast, Somaliland declared independence after the overthrow of Somali military dictator Siad Barre in 1991.

The move followed a secessionist struggle in which Siad Barre’s forces pursued rebel guerrillas into the territory. Tens of thousands of people were killed and cities razed.

Although not internationally recognized, Somaliland has a functioning political system, government institutions, a police force and its own currency.

Its history as a distinct region of Somalia dates back to 19th century colonial rule. It was a British protectorate – known as British Somaliland – until it merged with Italian Somaliland in 1960 to form the Somali Republic.

Supporters of Somaliland independence say the region is predominantly populated by members of the Isaaq clan, an ethnic difference from the rest of Somalia.

Additionally, Somaliland, home to approximately six million people, enjoys relative peace and stability. Its supporters say it should not be chained to Somalia, which has long been ravaged by attacks by Islamist militants..

However, Somalia considers Somaliland to be an integral part of its territory. The government in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, has repeatedly stated that any recognition of Somaliland’s independence would contravene Somalia’s sovereignty.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud also called Israel’s statement an “existential threat” to his country’s unity.

In a phone call Friday with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country recognizes Somaliland’s “right to self-determination.”

He also said official recognition would be “an excellent opportunity to expand” the partnership between the two countries.

However, analysts believe there are strategic reasons for Israel’s declaration.

“Israel needs allies in the Red Sea region for many strategic reasons, among them the possibility of a future campaign against the Houthis,” Israeli think tank the Institute for National Security Studies, referring to Yemen’s Iran-backed rebels, said in a newspaper report last month.

“Somaliland is an ideal candidate for such cooperation as it could offer Israel potential access to an operational zone close to the conflict zone.”

Israel repeatedly struck targets in Yemen after the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, in response to Houthi attacks on Israel that rebels said were in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

In response to Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, the Houthis warned that any Israeli presence in Somaliland would be considered a “military target” for their forces.

A few months ago, a number of media outlets reported that Israel had contacted Somaliland about possible resettlement of Palestinians forcibly expelled from Gaza.

Israel has not commented on the reports, but at the time Somaliland said any move by Israel to recognize its independence would have nothing to do with the Palestinian issue. Somalia and the Palestinian Authority have suggested that Israel’s recognition of Somaliland could be linked to a plan to relocate Palestinians.

“Somalia will never accept that the Palestinian people are forcibly expelled from their rightful lands to a distant place,” the Somali president declared on Sunday before his parliament.

Presenting his views, US-based analyst Cameron Hudson told the BBC that Israel recognized Somaliland mainly because it is trying to counter Iran’s influence in the Red Sea region.

“The Red Sea is also a channel for weapons and fighters to move from the Red Sea to the Eastern Mediterranean. It has traditionally been a source of support and supplies for fighters in Gaza. And so having a presence, a security presence, an intelligence presence at the mouth of the Red Sea only serves Israel’s national security interests,” he said.

Israel has been criticized by countries including Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the African Union, Yemen, Sudan, Nigeria, Libya, Iran, Iraq and Qatar.

In their condemnations, many of these countries referred to Somalia’s “territorial integrity” and the violation of international principles.

The African Union has long feared that recognition of Somaliland could trigger a chain reaction, in which separatists could demand recognition of the territories they claim.

“Regions could attempt to establish external alliances without the consent of central governments, setting a dangerous precedent that risks widespread instability,” Abdurahman Sayed, a UK-based analyst for the Horn of Africa, told the BBC.

Countries considered allies of Somaliland, or supportive of its campaign for recognition, have remained largely silent.

For example, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which operates a military port in Somaliland, has not issued a statement.

Mr Hudson told the BBC that the UAE is “very aligned with the Israelis on this Somaliland issue”.

“I think even today you are going to see an alignment of Israeli and Emirati interests throughout the Red Sea region,” he added.

The Ethiopian government also declined to comment. Last year Somaliland has agreed to lease part of its coastline to landlocked Ethiopia – a decision that angered Somalia.

Mr Abdurahman said Turkey had intervened as a mediator between Somalia and Ethiopia. This led Ethiopia to sign an agreement with the Somali government, pledging to respect its territorial integrity.

“As a result, while Israel’s unilateral recognition of Somaliland may be quietly welcomed by Ethiopia, Addis Ababa appears to have adopted a cautious wait-and-see approach,” the analyst added.

The Somalilanders hoped that the United States would recognize it as an independent state following signals given before the start of Donald Trump’s second presidential term.

But in response to Israel’s statement, Trump suggested New York Post that he would not quickly follow Netanyahu’s lead.

“Does anyone really know what Somaliland is?” he was quoted as saying.