On May 17, 2025, Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi sent a letter to the leaders of all 193 UN member states, asking them to formally recognize Somaliland's independence.
“Only one of them replied,” Abdullahi said in an exclusive interview with The Jerusalem Post. “It was Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. We then reached the conclusion that Israel would recognize Somaliland.”
Somaliland, a self-governing territory of roughly six million people in the Horn of Africa, declared independence from Somalia in 1991 after the collapse of Somalia's central government. Although it has maintained its own government, security forces, elections, and state institutions for more than three decades, it remains unrecognized by most of the international community.
That changed on December 26, 2025, when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel would formally recognize Somaliland, making it the first UN member state to do so.
This week, Abdullahi arrived in Israel for an official visit, the first by a Somaliland president since recognition was granted. However, it was not his first trip to the country.
“I came discreetly in October 2025. At that time, we were exploring ways and means to secure recognition for Somaliland,” he said.
During that visit, Abdullahi met with Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who had been advancing behind-the-scenes contacts between the two sides.
Somaliland president visits Israel in first since official recognition
The Somaliland leader is now seeking to expand cooperation with Israel across a broad range of sectors, including economic development, natural resources, agriculture, water management, and security.
Since Israel's recognition of Somaliland, foreign media reports have repeatedly speculated that Israel could establish a military presence in the territory because of its strategic location along the Gulf of Aden, directly across from Yemen and near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital maritime chokepoint through which ships traveling to Eilat must pass.
“We have not discussed that,” Abdullahi said. However, he added, “I cannot rule out the possibility that it could happen in the future. If our cooperation continues to deepen, our relationship could develop far beyond where it stands today.”
Israeli officials say practical cooperation between the two countries is already underway, particularly in water management.
“We identified many areas in which they need support, but we recognized water management as the most important because it is a field where meaningful change can be achieved relatively quickly,” Eynat Shlein, deputy director-general of MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation at the Foreign Ministry, told the Post.
Even before the recent conflict with Iran, 25 water engineers from Somaliland traveled to Israel to participate in a national water-resource management training program.
“Another similar course has just begun with twenty-five additional water engineers. Together with Israel’s Water Authority, we are teaching them advanced Israeli methods, providing extensive professional guidance, and working with them on their own projects,” Shlein said.
She added that Somaliland has also requested Israeli assistance in the healthcare sector.
“We funded the arrival of children suffering from heart disease through the Save a Child’s Heart organization. There will be cooperation across many sectors—whether agriculture, energy, or education—with the goal of reflecting the importance of the relationship between our two countries.”
Economic cooperation is also attracting significant interest from the Israeli private sector.
Somaliland's business ties in Israel
During his visit, Abdullahi met with a large group of Israeli business leaders and investors.
“There was such strong interest that many businesspeople who wanted to attend could not be accommodated, and we had to limit participation to just 200 companies,” he said. “We have many opportunities to offer—mineral resources, natural gas, oil, fisheries, and livestock. There is a great deal that we can bring to the table.”
The president acknowledged that Israel’s recognition of Somaliland drew criticism from several countries, particularly in the Arab world, but said he remains confident that other nations will eventually follow Israel’s lead.
“We hope our relationship with Israel will continue to grow stronger, and I believe additional Arab countries will eventually follow.”
Asked about the prospects for US recognition, which is championed by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R), Abdullahi expressed optimism.
“We hope the United States will recognize us in the future. We are holding discussions with American officials on the matter.”
He also revealed that he may travel to the United States before the end of the year.
“The entire world followed my visit to Israel; millions of people were watching,” the president said. “The very exposure Somaliland has received is a major achievement. Israel and Somaliland are close partners, and our relationship will continue and become even stronger.”
As for a future visit by Netanyahu to Somaliland, Abdullahi was equally confident.
“Netanyahu will come to Somaliland at the right time. In the meantime, our relations will continue to flourish."