Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has acknowledged the role of the Mossad in Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland as an independent state, a move that has triggered strong condemnation from Arab and Islamic countries and raised concerns over regional stability.
In a statement posted on his official X account on Friday, Netanyahu thanked Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Mossad chief David Barnea and the intelligence agency for their contribution to the agreement announced the same day. Israeli media later reported that the recognition followed years of discreet intelligence activity in the self-declared republic, describing it as a strategic breakthrough for Israel.
Israel became the first country to formally recognize Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia that declared independence in 1991 but lacks international recognition. The move was immediately rejected by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which said it violated Somalia’s sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity.
The backlash widened on Saturday when 21 Arab and Islamic countries, including Iran, issued a joint statement denouncing the decision. The statement warned that the recognition could have serious repercussions for peace and security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, with broader implications for international peace and security. It also fully rejected any potential link between the move and attempts to forcibly expel the Palestinian people from their land.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei condemned what he described as Israel’s blatant violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, accusing Israel of pursuing a plan to fragment an Islamic country. He said the move amounted to a clear breach of the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law. Syria separately rejected Israel’s decision in its own statement.
Israeli outlet Ynet reported that the Mossad had spent years building discreet relationships with senior Somaliland officials, laying the groundwork for recognition through personal and informal channels. The report cited unnamed Israeli officials who highlighted Somaliland’s strategic location along the Gulf of Aden, opposite Yemen and near areas controlled by the Houthi movement, which has posed persistent threats to regional shipping lanes.
The same report said unnamed officials also viewed Somaliland as a possible location for accommodating large numbers of Gazans, a claim that has heightened regional concern and fueled criticism of Israel’s move.
Somaliland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, defended the agreement after signing a joint declaration of mutual recognition with Netanyahu. He said Somaliland would join the Abraham Accords, presenting the decision as a step toward regional and global peace.
The Abraham Accords, brokered in 2020 during US President Donald Trump’s first administration, formalized diplomatic ties between Israel and several Arab states. Critics argue that extending the framework to a disputed territory like Somaliland risks deepening regional tensions rather than promoting stability.
