Sat Dec 27 03:07:44 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the article, followed by a rewritten version as a news article suitable for publication:
Summary:
On December 26, 2025, Israel became the first country to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state. This move has drawn strong condemnation from Somalia, the African Union, Turkey, and Egypt, who view it as an attack on Somali sovereignty and a dangerous precedent for regional stability. Somaliland’s President Abdullahi welcomed the recognition as a historic moment and expressed readiness to join the Abraham Accords. Celebrations erupted in Somaliland. Analysts suggest Israel’s recognition is motivated by strategic interests in the Red Sea region, particularly concerning potential future actions against the Houthis in Yemen. The recognition may also offer Somaliland economic opportunities it has been deprived of.
News Article:
Israel First to Recognize Somaliland, Sparking Regional Condemnation
Mogadishu – December 27, 2025 – Israel has officially recognized Somaliland as an independent and sovereign nation, making it the first country in the world to take this step. The move has ignited a firestorm of criticism from Somalia, the African Union (AU), Turkey, and Egypt, who decry it as a violation of Somali sovereignty and a destabilizing force in the region.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s office announced the recognition, stating it aligns with the spirit of the Abraham Accords, the normalization agreements brokered between Israel and several Arab nations. Prime Minister Netanyahu has reportedly invited Somaliland’s President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi to visit Israel.
Somalia’s Foreign Ministry swiftly condemned the decision as a deliberate attack on its sovereignty, warning it would undermine peace in the region. The African Union echoed this sentiment, stating it “firmly rejects” Israel’s move and warning that any attempt to undermine Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity risks setting a “dangerous precedent” for the continent.
“Somaliland remains an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia,” stated Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, head of the AU.
In contrast, Somaliland’s President Abdullahi hailed Israel’s decision as a “historic moment” and expressed Somaliland’s readiness to join the Abraham Accords. Celebrations erupted in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, with residents taking to the streets waving the Somaliland flag.
Turkey, a close ally of Somalia, condemned the move as “overt interference” in Somalia’s domestic affairs. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said its top diplomat had spoken with counterparts from Turkey, Somalia and Djibouti who together condemned the move and emphasized full support for the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia.
Analysts suggest Israel’s recognition is driven by strategic considerations, particularly its interest in maintaining a presence in the Red Sea region and the potential for future involvement in the conflict in Yemen. A recent paper by the Institute for National Security Studies highlighted the strategic importance of allies in the region, given ongoing tensions with the Houthi rebels.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has struggled to gain international recognition, hindering access to foreign loans, aid, and investment, leaving the region deeply impoverished.
First Piper 