Parliament Defies the World: Somaliland Backs Israel Recognition, Demands Global Respect.
Somaliland’s House of Representatives has formally endorsed Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as an independent state, marking a decisive political statement that defies long-standing international reluctance and reinforces Hargeisa’s push for full sovereignty.
In a resolution approved on Saturday, lawmakers described Israel’s move as a “courageous and principled step,” saying it represents a major advance in Somaliland’s decades-long struggle for international recognition. Parliament said the recognition validates the will of the Somaliland people and reflects Israel’s acknowledgment of the right of peoples to self-determination and independent statehood.
The House recalled that Israel had taken a similar position more than six decades ago, on June 26, 1960, when it became the first country to recognize Somaliland during its brief period of independence before its voluntary union with Somalia. Lawmakers framed the latest recognition as a historical correction rather than a rupture.
The resolution urged the international community and global institutions to respect Somaliland’s right to determine its own political future and called on other states to follow Israel’s example. Parliament also issued a warning against any external interference in Somaliland’s internal affairs, arguing that such actions would undermine international law and the democratic aspirations of its people.
Lawmakers appealed for international support to help Somaliland consolidate stability, accelerate development, and secure formal recognition, stressing that the territory has functioned as a peaceful, self-governing entity for more than three decades.
The parliamentary endorsement aligns closely with President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro)’s agenda, which has placed international recognition at the center of Somaliland’s foreign policy since he took office last year. With the legislature now publicly backing Israel’s move, Hargeisa has sent a unified message: recognition is no longer a diplomatic aspiration, but a national demand backed by the will of its institutions and people.
