ISRAEL has further plunged a dagger into the heart of the Muslim Ummah by officially recognizing the so-called Somaliland as an independent state.
On December 26 of last year, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Somaliland’s self-proclaimed President Abdirahman Irro entered into an agreement through a declaration made in Jerusalem. Israel referred to this as a part of the ‘Abraham Accords.’ It is reported that President Abdirahman had been involved in secret negotiations with Israel for the past year. According to Israeli sources, President Abdirahman Mohammed Abdullah secretly visited Israel in October 2025, where he met with senior officials from the Mossad and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the agreement, Prime Minister Netanyahu particularly thanked the Director of Mossad, David Barnea, for his role in the arrangement.
Five years ago, in 2020, when the agreement between Israel and the Arab Emirates was reached, the separatist leadership of Somaliland warmly welcomed it. The act of recognizing Somaliland as a sovereign state will be a significant blow to Somalia’s struggle against groups such as Al-Shabaab and ISIS. A total of 23 Islamic countries, including Pakistan, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned the illegal visit of Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to Somaliland on January 6, labelling it a clear violation of international law and the United Nations Charter. Last November, the visit of General Dagvin Anderson, Commander of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), to Somaliland cannot also be overlooked. The British newspaper, the Financial Times, reported that a senior unnamed U.S. official stated that the Trump administration had begun negotiations with Somaliland regarding formal recognition.
It is noteworthy that Somaliland declared its separation from Somalia during the civil war in 1991 and has since maintained its own government, currency, and military, but has not yet gained international recognition. In November 2024, the self-appointed President Abdirahman took office through presidential elections in the so-called Somaliland. He is affiliated with the opposition leader and the Waddani party. This separate area is located in the northwest of Somalia, stretching along the crucial Gulf of Aden in the Red Sea, and shares borders with Ethiopia and Djibouti, which increases its strategic significance. According to an Israeli think tank report, the Somaliland region could be used as a frontline base for monitoring the Houthis and conducting operations against them. The question arises: will Israel’s recognition of Somaliland reshape the geopolitical landscape of the Red Sea? Its aim is to enhance its influence in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea and establish a foothold here. Israel justifies this by stating the need to protect its and Washington’s interests from Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. The agreement between Somaliland and Israel establishes a partnership to secure access to important maritime routes in the Horn of Africa, particularly via the Red Sea to the southern arc.
The geographical position of Somaliland is crucial, as it lies near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s busiest trade routes connecting the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal. This includes an 850-kilometer stretch along the Gulf of Aden, serving as a major access point to Bab el-Mandeb. Israel’s recognition of Somaliland is not merely a matter of diplomatic relations; it likely encompasses control over the Red Sea, encirclement of the Houthis, and possibly a covert plan for the relocation of Palestinians. An agreement with Tel Aviv signifies a foothold in the Horn of Africa, utilizing Somaliland’s land and waters against the Houthis, capitalizing on the proximity to Yemen and the Red Sea, and gaining strategic advantages against Iran and the Houthis. Among Israel’s major goals is the forced relocation of Palestinians to Somaliland and the establishment of a significant Zionist military base there.
Two strategically important locations within Somaliland are under consideration: the port city of Berbera, which is significant due to its connection to Ethiopia, and the historical coastal city of Zeila, situated near the Djibouti border and closest to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This site has historically served as the capital of the Adal Sultanate and a trade hub for the Red Sea. Israeli presence at this location would be for monitoring Yemen and Eritrea. It appears that Tel Aviv’s move is designed to establish strategic positions on both sides of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, coinciding with reports that Turkey and Somalia are planning to set up another military base at the port of Las Qoray, which offers direct access to the Red Sea.
The African Union rejected this through the Cairo Resolution of 1964, warning that it could empower dozens of separatist groups in countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, and Ethiopia, which are already experiencing armed conflicts. Saudi Arabia has also rejected this in defence of Somalia’s territorial integrity. In contrast, Trump derisively noted in the New York Post whether anyone really knows what Somaliland is, labeling the proposal for a U.S. military base there as a big deal. Moreover, control over the Suez Canal will provide Egypt the additional leverage to be blackmailed, and it will allow them to halt exports from Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen at will through the Strait of Hormuz. For this reason, many experts with insights into global affairs believe that Somaliland will effectively act as a new colony for Israel in the region, from which plans to encircle Arab countries will be executed. This also represents a significant conspiracy aimed at redrawing the geographical boundaries of Arab nations, impacting both their economies and defence. In the guise of recognizing Somaliland, it will become easier for Israel to promote civil wars in other Arab countries, much like in Syria and Libya. By recognizing Somaliland, Israel has jeopardized the security of the Horn of Africa, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, and the broader Middle East, posing a challenge for global stability. More importantly, the situation is a test case for the Muslim world.
—The writer is Chairman, Tehrik Jawanan-e- Pakistan.
