Hargeisa -- In the first international recognition since it declared independence from Somalia in 1991, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced today that Israel has officially recognized the Republic of Somaliland as a sovereign and independent state, with Hargeisa as its capital.

In an official statement, Netanyahu said the decision comes as “recognition of a political reality that has existed for more than three decades, and of Somaliland’s experience in relative stability and institution-building in the Horn of Africa.” He added that the move paves the way for direct diplomatic relations and broader political, security, and economic cooperation between the two sides.

The government of Somaliland welcomed the announcement, describing it as a historic step that breaks the long-standing international isolation imposed on the territory since it declared independence from Somalia in 1991, following the collapse of the central government in Mogadishu.

Observers believe the recognition could mark a significant turning point in Somaliland’s long quest for international legitimacy and may place the international community before a new reality, particularly given the region’s strategic location along the Gulf of Aden and near the Bab al-Mandab Strait—one of the world’s most vital maritime trade routes.

At the same time, the decision is expected to provoke strong reactions from the Somali federal government, which continues to assert its sovereignty over the entire country, as well as mixed regional and international responses to this unprecedented development.