Why does Israel recognize the independence of this country from Africa?

Israel made the controversial decision to recognize Somaliland as an independent state, prompting condemnation from many other countries.

China was the latest country to condemn the decision, with its foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian telling reporters: “No country should encourage or support internal separatist forces in other countries for its own selfish interests.”

China laid out its position ahead of an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss Israel’s decision.

Israel on Friday became the first country in the world to recognize Somaliland as an independent republic, more than three decades after the region declared independence from Somalia.

Somaliland’s president called the development a “historic moment,” but Somalia strongly opposed the Israeli move, which it viewed as an attack on its sovereignty.

Dozens of countries and organizations, including Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and the African Union, also condemned Israel’s sudden announcement.

Somaliland is a breakaway semi-desert territory along the Gulf of Aden that declared independence in 1991 after the overthrow of Somali military dictator Siad Barre.

The move comes after a separatist battle during which Siad Barre’s forces pursued rebel guerrillas in the area. Tens of thousands were killed and towns razed to the ground.

Although not internationally recognized, Somaliland has an effective political system, government institutions, police force and its own currency.

Its history as a distinct region of Somalia dates back to colonial rule in the nineteenth century. It was a British protectorate known as British Somaliland until 1960 when it merged with Italian Somaliland to form the Republic of Somalia.

Supporters of Somaliland’s independence argue that the region’s population is mainly from the Ishaq clan, which is ethnically different from the rest of Somalia.

Additionally, Somaliland, with a population of about six million, is relatively peaceful and stable. Its supporters argue it should not be beholden to Somalia, which has long been devastated by attacks by Islamist militants.

However, Somalia considers Somaliland an integral part of its territory. The government in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, has repeatedly stated that any recognition of Somaliland’s independence would violate Somalia’s sovereignty.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohammed also described Israel’s announcement as an “existential threat” to his country’s unity.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a phone call with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi on Friday that Israel recognized Somaliland’s “right to self-determination.”

He also said official recognition would be a great opportunity to “expand” the partnership between the two countries.

Analysts, however, said there were strategic reasons for Israel’s announcement.

“Israel needs allies in the Red Sea region for many strategic reasons, including the possibility of future strikes against the Houthis,” the Israeli think tank Institute for National Security said in a paper last month, referring to Iran-backed rebels in Yemen.

“Somaliland is an ideal candidate for such cooperation as it could provide Israel with potential access to operational areas close to conflict zones.”

After the Gaza war broke out in October 2023, Israel repeatedly attacked targets in Yemen in response to Houthi attacks on Israel. The rebels claimed that the Houthis were in solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

In response to Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, the Houthis warned that any Israeli presence in Somaliland would be considered a “military target” for their forces.

Several months ago, some news outlets reported that Israel had contacted Somaliland about the possible resettlement of Palestinians forcibly evacuated from the Gaza Strip.

Israel has not commented on the reports, but Somaliland said at the time that any Israeli move to recognize its independence had nothing to do with the Palestinian issue. Both Somalia and the Palestinian Authority have said Israel’s recognition of Somaliland could be linked to a plan to expel Palestinians.

“Somalia will never accept the forcible eviction of the Palestinian people from their rightful land to a distant place,” Somalia’s president told parliament on Sunday.

US Africa analyst Cameron Hudson told the BBC that Israel recognized Somaliland mainly because it was trying to counter Iran’s influence in the Red Sea region.

He said: “The Red Sea is also the channel through which weapons and militants flow from the Red Sea into the eastern Mediterranean. It has traditionally been a source of support and supply for militants in Gaza. Therefore, having a presence, a security presence and an intelligence presence at the mouth of the Red Sea only serves Israel’s national security interests.”

Israel has been criticized by Egypt, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, the African Union, Yemen, Sudan, Nigeria, Libya, Iran, Iraq and Qatar.

Many of these countries cited Somalia’s “territorial integrity” and violations of international principles in their condemnations.

The African Union has long feared that recognizing Somaliland could trigger a chain reaction in which separatists could demand recognition of the territory they claim.

Abdurahman Sayed, a UK-based Horn of Africa analyst, told the BBC that “regions could set a dangerous precedent by trying to forge external alliances without the consent of central governments, creating the risk of widespread instability.”

Countries considered allies of Somaliland or sympathetic to Somaliland’s quest for recognition have remained largely silent.

For example, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which operates a military port in Somaliland, has yet to issue a statement.

Mr Hudson told the BBC that the UAE was “very much aligned with Israel on the issue of Somaliland”.

“I think even now you will see an alignment of Israeli and Emirati interests across the Red Sea region,” he added.

The Ethiopian government also had no comment. last year Somaliland agrees to lease part of its coastline to landlocked Ethiopia – The move angered Somalia.

Abdulrahman said Türkiye was involved in mediating between Somalia and Ethiopia. It resulted in Ethiopia signing an agreement with the Somali government pledging to respect its territorial integrity.

“So while Israel’s unilateral recognition of Somaliland may be quietly welcomed by Ethiopia, Addis Ababa appears to be adopting a cautious ‘wait and see’ approach,” the analysts added.

Somalilanders had hoped the United States would recognize them as an independent country after sending a signal before Donald Trump began his second term as president.

But in response to Israel’s statement, Trump suggested to Israel new york post He won’t be following Netanyahu’s lead anytime soon.

“Does anyone really know what Somaliland is?” he reportedly said.