In an exclusive interview on i24NEWS’s Middle East Now program, Mohamed Abdirahman Hassan, Director General of the Republic of Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hailed Israel’s formal recognition of Somaliland as an independent sovereign state on December 26, 2025, as a “historic and long-overdue milestone.”
Israel thus became the first United Nations member state to extend official diplomatic recognition to Somaliland since it restored its independence from Somalia on May 18, 1991.
Hassan expressed profound national pride and gratitude, viewing the decision as the long-awaited first step toward broader international legitimacy.
“It has always been the ambition of the Government of Somaliland to have the first country step forward and recognize us,” he said. “Israel has initiated what we call long-overdue recognition, and many countries will follow. We will have many more, but it is not suitable to reveal them now. This step is the beginning of many more.”
He underscored Somaliland’s strategic priority of building alliances with nations that advance peace, security, stability, and economic prosperity.
“We already have strong trade ties with countries including the UAE and our neighbor Ethiopia, and we will continue to build more,” Hassan noted. “Somaliland will have more bilateral relations.”
Highlighting the mutual benefits of partnership with Israel, he praised the country’s economic and technological prowess:
“We appreciate that the state of Israel is a strong country economically, and we hope Somaliland offers a wide range of options that will contribute to a mutual partnership—starting with trade, tourism, agriculture. There are many areas we can exchange and collaborate on. Somaliland has many untapped resources, and now we will have a knowledgeable country to collaborate with.”
The announcement triggered widespread celebrations across Somaliland, with joyful crowds of young people, men, and women filling the streets. Hassan drew symbolic parallels to June 26, 1960, when Somaliland first gained independence from British colonial rule, describing the recognition as a deeply meaningful culmination of decades of aspiration.
Addressing potential geopolitical concerns, Hassan pointed to established precedents:
“Turkey’s early bilateral relations, Egypt’s peace treaty, and Qatar’s ties demonstrate that Muslim-majority countries have long engaged with Israel. Somaliland pursues its own sovereign interests without taking direction from others.”
Hassan credited President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro’s decisive leadership for this diplomatic breakthrough, emphasizing that Somaliland’s progress toward international recognition stems from its consistent record of governance, democratic institutions, and relative stability over more than three decades.
While Somaliland has functioned as a stable nation since 1991 without prior formal recognition from any UN member state, Israel’s decision is widely regarded as a potential turning point. It may open doors to expanded partnerships in diplomacy, trade, agriculture, technology, and security.
Republic of Somaliland remains steadfast in asserting its sovereignty and views this historic step as a foundation for future global acceptance.