As Ronald Reagan once said in his 1964 A Time for Choosing speech, “There are no easy answers, but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.”
Israel’s decision to become the first UN member state to formally recognize the Republic of Somaliland as an independent sovereign state is one of the boldest geopolitical moves in recent years, and one of the most morally clear.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement on December 26, 2025, framed as being “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords,” immediately triggered a wave of outrage across the Arab and Muslim world.
A Coalition of the Enraged
Somalia condemned the move as an “unlawful attack” and an “invasion” of its sovereignty, convening an emergency parliamentary session that declared the recognition “null and void.” The Arab League followed with an emergency meeting rejecting Israel’s decision as a violation of international law and Somalia’s territorial integrity. Qatar went further, calling the recognition a “dangerous precedent,” while paradoxically urging Israel to recognize a Palestinian state.
Turkey, Egypt, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation joined the condemnation. A joint statement from 20 countries - including Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Pakistan - warned that the move threatens regional peace. Even terrorist organizations felt compelled to respond. Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis declared any Israeli presence in Somaliland a “military target.” Al-Shabaab vowed to fight any Israeli attempt to “claim or use” Somaliland territory.
When terrorists, Islamist movements, and authoritarian regimes all align in opposition, it is rarely because a decision is reckless. More often, it is because it threatens their interests. Qatar-based Al Jazeera has amplified this backlash, running a sustained media campaign portraying the recognition as illegal, destabilizing, and colonial, even echoing unfounded claims about resettling Palestinians in Somaliland.
Democracy vs. Dysfunction
Israel’s response has been straightforward. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar reminded critics that “Somaliland was not created this past weekend. It has existed as a functioning state for more than 34 years.” He added that attacks on Israel’s recognition are hypocritical and that Israel alone decides whom it recognizes.
Netanyahu emphasized historical ties, recalling Israel’s brief recognition of Somaliland in 1960, and pledged cooperation in agriculture, technology, healthcare, and economic development. Somaliland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, hailed the decision as historic, committing to join the Abraham Accords and deepen cooperation on counterterrorism and regional peace.
The contrast between Somaliland and Somalia is stark. Somaliland has held 11 free and fair elections since 2000 and has recorded zero terrorist attacks since 2008. Somalia, meanwhile, has suffered over 10,700 terrorist attacks since 2008, has not conducted a genuinely fair national election since 1968, and remains trapped in a cycle of violence, piracy, and al-Shabaab dominance. Rewarding dysfunction while penalizing success is not neutrality, it is moral failure.
Who’s Afraid of Reality?
China’s reaction underscores the broader stakes. Beijing has firmly opposed the recognition, reaffirming Somalia’s territorial integrity and warning against “external interference.” At the UN Security Council, China framed the move as destabilizing, language that mirrors its hostility to Taiwan’s international recognition. Somaliland, like Taiwan, represents an inconvenient reality for authoritarian powers that fear precedent.
The West’s response has been the most dispiriting. Washington is “studying” the issue. The European Union reaffirmed Somalia’s unity and called for dialogue. Once again, Western governments chose appeasement over principle, aligning themselves - intentionally or not - with Islamist pressure and authoritarian interests. Only a handful of voices, such as Nigel Farage, publicly acknowledged the courage of Israel’s decision.
Progressive hypocrisy has been especially revealing. Representative Ilhan Omar, a frequent advocate of global justice, has consistently opposed Somaliland’s self-determination, insisting “Somalia is one.” Her rhetoric of nationalist unity and blood ties stands in sharp contrast to the inclusivity she demands elsewhere. In Somaliland’s case, self-determination is suddenly unacceptable.
This is not merely an African issue. It is a global test of whether democracies will stand by their values or retreat in the face of pressure. Somaliland is a democratic success story in one of the world’s most volatile regions. Ignoring that reality will not bring peace. Recognizing it just might.
Shalitha Bandara
Political Commentator
