Khaberni - Since Israel announced its official recognition of the Somaliland region, there have been numerous readings and analyses regarding the objectives of this step and its relation to the calculations and agenda of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, particularly in the Horn of Africa region.
Yesterday, Friday, Netanyahu announced the formal recognition of the "Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state," framing the decision within the "Abraham Accords," while the Somali presidency considered it a violation of Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Analysts suggest that the Israeli move is linked to an old strategy, as Israel has been interested in the Horn of Africa region since the 1950s and 1960s. The writer and political analyst specializing in African affairs, Abdel Qader Mohammed Ali, explains in the program "Beyond the News" in the episode (2025/12/27) that Israel has revived this strategy in recent years, especially between 2010 and 2011.
Israel returned to focus on the Horn of Africa -according to Mohammed Ali- following the rise of resistance movements in Gaza Strip and Southern Lebanon, and because of the repercussions of the Arab Spring, in addition to the emergence of Turkey's role in the region.
Another reason Israel recognized Somaliland is the strategic location of this entity, as it overlooks the Gulf of Aden and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, which will allow Tel Aviv - the speaker adds - to spy on the Houthi group in Yemen and monitor navigation in that region.
According to Israeli belief, recognizing Somaliland will isolate this region from its surroundings and turn it into an Israeli enclave only, as per the writer and political analyst specializing in African affairs.
The academic and expert in Israeli affairs, Dr. Mahnud Mustafa, shares the previous guest’s reading regarding the Israeli decision. He identified Israel's goals behind the recognition of Somaliland as approaching the Houthi front and controlling maritime navigation in the Red Sea, as well as countering Turkish influence in Somalia.
Another strategic goal for Israel - according to Mustafa - is to send a message to everyone that it is actually changing the Middle East region and controlling the pace of these changes.
The Displacement of Palestinians
Regarding what Somaliland wants in return from Israel, the senior researcher at Al Jazeera Center for Studies, Dr. Liqaa Maki, says on the program "Beyond the News" that it involves security and agricultural and technological assistance.
According to the writer and political analyst specializing in African affairs, Abdel Qader Mohammed Ali, Somaliland wants to receive protection from Israel and for their relationship to be an entryway to relationships with the United States and other countries, i.e., obtaining international recognition, in addition to support from international institutions in the field of loans and investments.
On the other hand, Maki does not rule out that the Israeli decision to recognize the "Republic of Somaliland" may be related to Israel’s efforts to displace Palestinians from their land, especially since the region would receive money in exchange for this. However, he believes there are obstacles that may prevent achieving this goal, related to the Palestinians themselves, as they refuse to be displaced, and the other factor being that Somaliland is not internationally recognized as an entity.
The Associated Press reported in March that the United States and Israel had offered officials from three African countries, including settling Palestinians from the Gaza Strip on their land. The agency said sources disclosed that officials from Sudan, Somalia, and the separatist region of Somaliland were approached concerning the proposal, revealing that Sudanese officials had refused the U.S. proposal, while officials from Somalia and Somaliland stated they were not aware of any contacts in this regard.
It is noteworthy that the Somaliland region is located in the northwestern part of Somalia, and it has not enjoyed official recognition since declaring its separation from Somalia in 1991. The Somali government refuses to recognize the region as an independent state, considering it an integral part of the Republic of Somalia's territory, and considers any direct deal or interaction with it as an assault on the country's sovereignty and unity.
