President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro stated on Wednesday that global acknowledgment of the self-declared republic is accelerating, insisting that numerous nations are advancing toward formal endorsement in the wake of Israel’s decision.
Speaking during an address marking the conclusion of 2025 and the dawn of the new year, Irro characterized Israel’s step as a landmark breakthrough, presenting Somaliland as having surpassed a critical barrier into worldwide legitimacy after more than three decades of diplomatic seclusion.
Irro also cautioned that the recognition entails a price, noting that Somaliland had acquired new opponents while pursuing sovereign statehood. He encouraged residents to stay alert, protect domestic stability, and stand ready to repel any aggression. Israel’s acknowledgment has reverberated across the Horn of Africa, heightening regional friction and eliciting strong denunciation from neighboring governments that still consider Somaliland part of Somalia.
Somaliland proclaimed independence from Somalia in 1991 after central authority dissolved, but it has yet to receive formal validation from the African Union or the United Nations.
Somalia’s federal administration has firmly condemned Israel’s recognition as a breach of its sovereignty, cautioning that the action could unsettle an already fragile region. Irro’s comments indicate a more confident stance from Somaliland’s leadership as it endeavors to translate Israel’s recognition into wider international backing, even as the step intensifies regional divisions and prompts questions about the future equilibrium of power in the Horn of Africa.