Somaliland Official Defends Normalisation With Israel Amid Regional Backlash

Hersi Ali Haji Hassan, chairman of Somaliland’s ruling Waddani party, has strongly defended the breakaway territory’s decision to normalise relations with Israel, rejecting widespread criticism from Arab and Muslim states as hypocritical and politically motivated.

In a tense interview on Al Jazeera Mubasher, Hassan said Somaliland had been compelled to turn to Israel to secure international legitimacy after decades of international neglect. His remarks followed the controversial visit earlier this week by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to Hargeisa — Somaliland’s largest city and self-declared capital — and the first such visit since Israel recognised Somaliland in late December.

Why Somaliland Turned to Israel

Hassan argued that Somaliland has little choice but to accept recognition from any country willing to confer it. He said the territory has long sought official status without success and that the need for diplomatic partners is existential.

“We are not in a position to choose. We are in a state of necessity for official international recognition,” Hassan told Al Jazeera. “There is no choice before us but to welcome any country that recognises our existential right.”

Regional Reactions

The visit prompted strong objections. Somalia’s federal government in Mogadishu condemned the move as a violation of sovereignty, while the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) issued statements rejecting what they called a separatist reality. Hassan dismissed those responses, noting Somaliland’s long claim of independence.

“We have been an independent state for 34 years,” Hassan said. “The rejection of the Arab League does not matter to us at all. They did not accept us as a member … and we did not receive any attention from Arab countries.”

Security Concerns And The Question Of A Military Presence

Regional capitals expressed concern that closer ties could permit an Israeli military foothold near the southern entrance to the Red Sea, a strategically vital corridor for global trade. Repeated questions about a possible Israeli base on Somaliland soil were not answered definitively.

“We have started diplomatic relations… This topic [a military base] has not been touched upon now,” Hassan said, refusing to explicitly rule out the possibility in the future.

The Gaza Question

The interview grew tense when anchor Ahmed Taha pressed Hassan on the morality of forging ties with a state accused by critics of serious abuses in Gaza. Hassan sought to separate Somaliland’s political needs from regional religious solidarity, saying the relationship with Israel is ‘‘political and economic’’ and framed primarily as a pursuit of recognition. He also referred to a US-brokered initiative in October 2025 that, he said, had halted the conflict — while media reports and observers have documented continued Palestinian casualties since that deal.

Hassan reiterated that Somaliland’s primary objective is international recognition and that engaging diplomatically with Israel was one avenue toward that goal.

Outlook

The development marks a significant diplomatic shift for Somaliland and raises complex questions about regional politics, sovereignty, and security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea corridor. Whether other states will follow Israel’s lead or whether Somalia and regional organisations will intensify pressure remains uncertain.