Why Israel's Recognition Of Somaliland Is So Upsetting To So Many

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Twenty-one Middle Eastern and African governments and organizations signed a
statement condemning Israel's recognition of Somaliland“in light of the serious
repercussions to peace and security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region, and
its serious impacts on international peace and security, which also reflects Israel's clear and complete disregard for international law.”

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Qatar, Jordan, Algeria, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Libya, Palestine, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Comoros, Djibouti, Gambia, Maldives, Nigeria and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) signed the statement.

Western countries aren't pleased either. Some of it is just about Israel. But inadvertently or deliberately, Israel undermined the entire postcolonial foundation of broad regional politics.

Countries wanted relations with Somaliland, a peaceful and well-governed state that rejects Islamic fundamentalism, holds elections and sits in a strategic spot. But they didn't want to spread the idea of redrawing boundaries.

So, they called it“unique” and worked around the formalities, because if the people of Somaliland could erase colonial boundaries, why can't Biafrans, or Berbers, or Darfurians make a claim to independence? Or, for that matter, why can't the Kurds? Or the Baluch? Or the Druze? Or the Taiwanese?

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Western colonials, including France and the UK, still perceive themselves having
elevated status in their former colonies and maintained a military presence there. The
UK has military facilities in Kenya, and deployments in countries including Mali,
Somalia, Nigeria and Djibouti.

France used to, but was ousted from seven former colonies between 2022 and 2025, with Russia and China increasing their presence on the continent.

China is always looking for new sources of energy and minerals, but its concern about
Somaliland and Israel is that Somaliland reinforces Taiwan's determination to remain
apart from Beijing. Taiwan, of course, has relations with Somaliland and praised Israel's decision.

However, Israel didn't do it to irritate large parts of the world. Somaliland occupies a strategic position at the nexus of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Iranian shipments to the Houthis in Yemen and assorted jihadist groups in Africa sail through the Gulf.

Somaliland is next to Djibouti, home of the only permanent US base in Africa, and across from Yemen. It is north of Somalia, which sponsors piracy off its coast. Washington has been advancing and improving relations with Somaliland for more than a decade, hoping to counter Chinese advances in the region.