Having declared independance in 1991, Somaliland had long saught international recognition, but despite it's relatively stable governance, this never worked, sure they managed to get a few deals with other countries, Notably Taiwan and Ethiopia, it had never managed to get formal recognition.
Until Now, as Israel becomes the first country to officially recognize Somaliland.
Somaliland has an extremly strategic position as the entry of the Black Sea, Israel would probably desire an ally in the region in order to counter the Houthis, especially now that the officially Yemeni government has all but collapsed.
But Israel has also mentionned Somaliland as a place to deport the Palestinians.
This recognition is also part of a series of diplomatic victories for Somaliland, Ethiopia, Taiwan and the USA are also considering recognition.
It can be wondered if Israel has lifted the taboo over recognising Somaliland and if other countries will follow it in its recognition.
As for Somalia, it will contest it diplomatically, but it can hardly do anything, as it's embroiled in a civil war.
But not all is rosy for Somaliland, as it doesn't control all the territory it claims, as the de facto independant state of Puntland managed to take over border territories in Khamuto State. Tensions in the region are also rising between Eritrea and Ethiopia as the latter threatens to invade the former in order to regain the sea access it had lost in 1991. While Ethiopia is Somaliland's most important ally, Somaliland might want to also want to distance themselves from an ally that aggressively desires sea access.
Man how did a Somaliland shill find his way here? I hope nobody is falling for his blatant uncle tomfoolery you often find in thoroughly colonized minds (Ex. Muh Good Chinese (Taiwan) vs Bad ones (Mainlanders), etc.). In reality Somaliland, is not much different than Somalia, both plagued by clan politics and corruption.
The Somaliland government is basically one clan masquerading as a state, and it lost over 1/3rd of its claimed territory as its eastern provinces (SSC) are not part of that clan and separated to rejoin Somalia in response to repression. A similar situation is also brewing in their eastern province (Awdal).
I think South Yemen recognition will come afterwards and we'll see two new zionazi/uae comprador states surrounding the Houthis.
Somaliland official runs away from an interview with Al Jazzeera
Translation of the interview
Ahmed Taha, a presenter on Al Jazeera, conducted an interview with Hirsi Ali , president of the ruling Waddani Party in the so called Somaliland . During the interview , Ahmed Taha posed the question that many observers are currently raising :
The question everyone is asking now is:
Why did you take this controversial and infuriating step, not only to the Arab and Islamic regimes but also to the Arab and Islamic peoples, regarding normalization with Israel and receiving the Israeli Foreign Minister at a time when the Israelis are killing Palestinians day and night in the Gaza Strip and in Lebanon?
Why did you take this step?
I ask you, what prompted you to take this step of normalization with Israel? ) .
Hirsi Ali , president of the ruling Waddani Party in the so called Somaliland , responded :
First , I want to say that the word "separatists" . We are not separatists; we have been an independent state for 34 years.
The issue of normalizing relations with Israel is not limited to Somaliland; many Arab and Islamic countries have extensive political and economic ties with Israel, such as Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, the UAE, Morocco, and others. We in Somaliland have no choice but to welcome any country that recognizes our right to exist. We are not in a position of choice, but rather in a position of necessity for official international recognition. We also emphasize that our relations with Israel are diplomatic and based on mutual exchange .
Ahmed Taha then followed up by stating :
Firstly, you, forgive me, are not recognized internationally.
You are not recognized by at the state level, by governments, or by international institutions.
The first country to recognize you was the Israeli occupation state, even if you have a just cause regarding your secession from Somalia and the establishment of your state.
Is it with this just cause that you go and ally yourselves with Israel, which is killing your Muslim brothers in Palestine, Yemen, and other countries in this way?
The flag next to you now bears the words " There is no god but God " What kind of logic is this? Does the end justify the means?
For example, are you going and allying yourselves with Israel in this way to establish military bases on your land?
Hirsi Ali replied in labored, fragmented Arabic :
My brother Ahmed, this topic means that you say the killing is like this. Thank God, at the present time the war has stopped in Gaza thanks to President Trump’s initiative, which was signed by the parties in Sharm El Sheikh last October. We encourage the parties to move forward towards a permanent ceasefire. We officially supported it at the time in Somaliland and praised President Trump’s initiative. This is our position on the Gaza war, and this means the Israeli approach is another matter .
Ahmed Taha followed up :
What is your stance on the Israeli occupation's siege of 2 million Palestinians who are now without food and medicine?
Hirsi Ali answered again in awkward , disjointed Arabic that lacked clarity :
Now we are the Palestinian gateway. We, Somaliland, are far removed from these problems you keep talking about. Somaliland speaks of official relations between Somaliland and Israel. This war is far away, and we are not a gateway .
Ahmed Taha pressed further :
And where is A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim " الْمُسْلِمُ أَخُو الْمُسْلِمِ " ?
I tell you, you, with your coveted flag, proclaim "There is no god but God" and at the same time you affirm "I have no connection with the two million Palestinians who are besieged today, deprived of food, medicine, and everything " .
Hirsi Ali answered:
Ahmed, we say "There is no god but God," and this question should be directed to the Egyptian state. You are Egyptian; the Egyptian state is close to Rafah, but we are far away .
Ahmed Taha interjected :
Egypt refused. We are not talking about Egypt. Egypt did not accept the establishment of Israeli military bases on its territory.
My question now is, did you in the region agree to the establishment of Israeli military bases on your territory?
Hirsi Ali answered:
We didn't agree now , Now we agreed on political dealings, international recognition, and the exchange of matters, but this question isn't relevant now .
Ahmed Taha challenged him :
I don't understand what this exchange of matters is about. What will Israel gain from Somaliland? Forgive me, but after this normalization with Israel and this relationship, they're talking about establishing Israeli military bases on your land. Didn't they raise this issue with you? Did you discuss it with the Israelis during Gideon Sa'ar's visit?
Hirsi Ali concluded :
My brother, diplomatic relations have recently begun between the two countries, and this issue hasn't been addressed yet. This is just the beginning .
Ahmed Taha asked him :
If Israel offered to establish military bases there, would you accept that?
Hirsi Ali replied :
This question is in appropriate moment and, at present, premature .
Ahmed Taha interrupted him and asked:
Why this question at such an inopportune moment?
I'm telling you that the Israeli media and Israeli officials are saying they've opened a file with you regarding the establishment of an Israeli military base in the Somaliland province .
Hirsi Ali replied :
We welcome Israeli relations and welcome the visit of Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar. We thank him for the historic visit and we thank the State of Israel once again for the official recognition and the formal commencement of diplomatic relations .
Ahmed Taha asked him :
How do you view this Arab anger? The Arab League rejected this move, considering it a matter that primarily condemns you and places the Israeli occupation in this strategic region, thus affecting the security of the Red Sea .
Hirsi Ali replied :
We were and remain an Arab state, as stipulated in the Constitution of the Republic of Somaliland. Despite this, the League of Arab States has not accepted us as a member for 34 years, and we have received no attention from Arab states, gaining nothing from most of them but condemnations and letters of rejection. The Arab League's rejection does not concern us in the slightest. We know how to manage our affairs in a way that serves our interests and does not conflict with, or threaten the interests of, other countries. We strive to fulfill the will of the people of Somaliland .
Ahmed Taha asked him :
Are Somaliland's interests now aligned with those of Israel?
Hirsi Ali replied :
Somaliland deals with Israel .
Ahmed Taha asked him :
Is your interest aligned with Israel?
You say you have no interest in any contact with the Arabs, nor any benefit from engaging with Arab countries, let alone the countries surrounding you.
So, is Somaliland's interest now aligned with the Israeli occupation?
Hirsi Ali replied :
I'm not talking about the occupation; I'm talking about international engagement and dealings with the State of Israel. And we have no problem with international relations with the Israeli people.
This occupation you're talking about, what's the problem with Somaliland?
Our problem is the lack of international recognition, and we talk to all countries—we talk to the United States, the State of Israel, and any other country .
Ahmed Taha asked him :
Don't you see a contradiction now?
You say you have a just cause, we have the issue of secession and the issue of our state and we want everyone to recognize it,
and then the first country you establish relations with is a country that occupies the lands of others?
Hirsi Ali replied :
We are not separatists. First, I said that the people of Somaliland have a long history of struggle and determination to establish an independent state. They fought for the independence they achieved in 1960. The so-called illegitimate federation of Somalia was marred by controversy and mistreatment. One year after unification, the people of Somaliland overwhelmingly rejected (90%) the proposed constitution that would have united Somaliland with Somalia. The people of Somaliland suffered brutal repression, including arbitrary arrests, curfews, and mass executions by live ammunition, such as the killing of 45 businessmen in Burao at once. Before civilians fled to camps, they were subjected to massacres in various areas, resulting in more than 200 documented mass graves.
In 1991, the Republic of Somaliland officially regained its independence, and in 2000, Somaliland implemented a democratic system. The people of Somaliland voted (97%) in favor of the constitution. In 2012, the Somaliland government attempted to hold talks with Somalia to avoid crises, but little progress was made, and Somalia did not respect the agreements between 2012 and 2023. The talks ultimately broke down due to Somalia's failure to implement the agreements .
Ahmed Taha asked him :
I am not talking about all the efforts you have made with the Somali government and the issue of having a state. I am asking about the principle. You say that you have suffered, that you have been subjected to mass killings and mass graves, and at the same time the first country you deal with is a country accused of genocide before international bodies, the International Criminal Court, that has killed more than 70,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom are children and women. Even from a moral, religious, and even pragmatic standpoint, how can you accept this for yourselves?
Hirsi Ali replied :
My brother, what you're talking about now doesn't refer to the wars in Gaza.
We deal with Israel politically, and this political engagement isn't something our religion forbids. These are all political dealings, and the Prophet Muhammad dealt with the Israelites .
Ahmed Taha interrupted him and asked:
How did the Prophet deal with the Israelites?
Israel is a state that has only been around for about 70 years. If you're talking about dealing with Jews, then yes, the Prophet dealt with Jews as he dealt with Christians. Here, I'm not talking about Jews; I'm talking about an entity or a state that kills Muslims.
A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim. Haven't you read this hadith?
Haven't you read about Al-walāʾ wa-l-barāʾ " ٱلْوَلَاءُ وَٱلْبَرَاءُ loyalty and disavowal " , which signifies loving and hating for the sake of Allah?
You're dealing with a state that has killed 70,000 Muslims .
Hirsi Ali replied :
Now we are not talking about loyalty and disavowal " Al-walāʾ wa-l-barāʾ ٱلْوَلَاءُ وَٱلْبَرَاءُ ", we are talking about political matters and political relations between the two countries.
Ahmed Taha asked him :
You're saying it is politics and interests, and that's certainly good and acceptable.
What will Israel gain from Somaliland?
And what will Somaliland gain from Israel?
Hirsi Ali replied :
( We benefit from international recognition and economic growth; recognition is key to statehood. ) .
Ahmed Taha asked him :
( What does Israel gain from you? ) .
Hirsi Ali replied :
( Ask Israel, I benefit. ) .
Ahmed Taha asked him :
But you have no problem with the Arab and Islamic implications of this step, and even neighboring countries have rejected it. No country has yet agreed to the step you have taken. Doesn't this worry you?
Hirsi Ali replied :
( Doesn't it worry you that we have been without recognition and without any Arab help for 34 years? ) .
Ahmed Taha asked him :
( Yes,
Do you believe that your entry point to the international community, the region, and neighboring countries is through Israel? ) .
Hirsi Ali replied :
( Repeat the question. I didn't hear that question. ) .
Ahmed Taha asked him :
( I mean, Mr. Hirsi, that Israeli recognition of you and normalization of relations with Israel will be detrimental to what is known as the Somaliland region and your cause as you see it. This recognition and this normalization may be a calamity for you and not a benefit to Somaliland regarding its cause. ).
Hirsi Ali replied :
( Normalization, as I told you, is not just for Somalia. There are many Arab and Islamic countries that have extensive economic and diplomatic relations with Israel, such as Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, and others. ) .
Ahmed Taha asked him :
These countries, even when they normalized relations with Israel, established many red lines. These countries do not accept the presence of Israeli military bases on their soil. These countries rejected what Israel, as an occupying power, is doing to the people of the Gaza Strip. What is your clear and explicit stance now regarding Israel's killing of 70,000 Palestinians, and what is your stance regarding the siege currently imposed on more than 2 million Palestinians?
Hirsi Ali replied :
Now, our position regarding Israel's dealings with Somaliland is the position I mentioned. As for the position of those who ask me about this stance, the Palestinians, as a people, and the Arab and Islamic states, that is our position.
Ahmed Taha asked him :
Sir, I am asking you now, as a high-ranking official within Somaliland, what is Somaliland's position on the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories?
Hirsi Ali replied :
Our position is that the Palestinians have their land, the land of Palestine, and Israel has its land.
Now we will discuss the position of Somaliland and the position of Israel regarding these international relations.
Ahmed Taha asked him :
Do you believe that Israel committed genocide after killing approximately 70,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the majority of whom were women and children?
Hirsi Ali replied in broken and indistinct Arabic :
Thank God, the war in Gaza has stopped now, and these issues have been resolved.
Ahmed Taha asked him :
The war hasn't stopped, Mr. Morsi. I tell you, the war hasn't stopped. Israel is still killing Palestinians; the latest attack was just an hour ago. They are still depriving Palestinians of the bare minimum for survival. What is your stance on this?
Hirsi Ali replied :
Our position on this matter, which we in Somaliland have officially endorsed, is that we support the Trump initiative. Our position is a ceasefire in Gaza, as agreed upon in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Ahmed Taha asked him :
You did not answer my question. What is Somaliland's position on Israel's killing of seventy thousand civilians in the Gaza Strip?
Hirsi Ali replied :
Somaliland's position is peace. We do not want Muslims killed, nor do we want anyone else killed.
Ahmed Taha asked him :
Do you see Israel as an aggressor state committing genocide against the Palestinians and believe it should be held accountable for that?
Hirsi Ali replied in broken and indistinct Arabic :
Yes, but I'm talking about the political situation between Israel and Somaliland, not the problem you're referring to. These are the agreements between Israel and Palestine.
Ahmed Taha asked him :
I honestly didn't understand. My last question is: what is your stance on the Israeli siege of more than 2 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip?
Finally, Hirsi Ali, president of the ruling Waddani Party in what is known as Somaliland, flees because he cannot answer frankly and transparently for fear of incurring the wrath of Israel, and he cuts the transmission, thus ending the televised interview with Al Jazeera.