Netanyahu aims to increase pressure on the Houthis and curb Turkey’s influence on the Horn of Africa
Israel became the first country in the world to recognize the Somaliland as a sovereign and independent state. “We intend to collaborate with you in the economic, agricultural and social development sectors,” said the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahuaddressing the President of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi. “I am very, very happy and very proud of this day and I want to wish you and the people of Somaliland the best,” Netanyahu continued, inviting Abdullahi to Israel and maintaining that the recognition of Somaliland takes place “in the spirit of Abraham Accords”: agreements to which Abdullahi himself has announced his willingness to join.
The reactions of Somalia and Türkiye
Somaliland proclaimed its independence from Somalia in 1991 but, until Friday, no country had ever recognized it as a sovereign state. It is no coincidence that crowded protests were held in Somalia itself against the decision taken by Israel. A decision that was also bitterly contested by Ankara. “Preserving the unity and integrity of Somalia in all circumstances is of particular importance in our opinion. Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland is illegitimate and unacceptable”, thundered the Turkish president on Tuesday, Recep Tayyip Erdoganduring a joint press conference with his Somali counterpart, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. “The Netanyahu government has the blood of 71,000 of our Palestinian brothers and sisters on its hands. Now it is trying to destabilize the Horn of Africaafter its attacks on Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Iran, Qatar and Syria,” continued the sultan, while Mohamud accused the Jewish state of “illegal aggression.”
The positions of Saudi Arabia, China, the African Union and the United States
Criticism of Israel has also come from Saudi Arabia, China And African Union. Washington’s position, however, turned out to be more nuanced. Donald Trump he said he did not immediately want to follow Jerusalem in recognizing Somaliland, but he did not completely rule out such an eventuality either. “Everything is being studied… We will study it. I study many things and I always make excellent decisions which then turn out to be correct”, declared the American president, referring to the issue. “Israel has the same right to maintain diplomatic relations as any other sovereign state,” said Deputy US Ambassador to the United Nations Tammy Bruce. “Earlier this year, several countries, including members of this Council, made the unilateral decision to recognize a non-existent Palestinian state, yet no emergency meeting was called to express the outrage of this Council,” he continued. Let’s remember that part of the Republican Party has long been pushing for the Trump administration to recognize Somaliland: the senator from Texas is particularly active on this front, Ted Cruz.
Netanyahu’s strategic motivations
But what are the strategic reasons that led the Jewish State to recognize Somaliland? First, Netanyahu aims to have a foothold that is capable of increasing Israeli political-military pressure on Houthiswhich are found in Yemen. In fact, let us remember that Somaliland overlooks the Gulf of Aden. Secondly, the Israeli prime minister hopes to stem the influence of Türkiye on the Horn of Africa. In the last year, Erdogan has in fact bet heavily on strengthening relations with Ethiopia and Somalia.
