Driving the news:
The Political Bureau of Yemen’s Ansarullah movement issued a statement denouncing the Israeli regime’s declaration, warning that silence over the move could embolden further Israeli aggression in the Horn of Africa.
Why it matters:
The Israeli regime’s recognition of “Somaliland” threatens Somalia’s territorial integrity and risks opening a new front of instability in a strategically vital region connecting the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and East Africa.
The big picture:
The Israeli regime’s recognition of “Somaliland” comes amid mounting regional backlash against Tel Aviv’s policies, particularly as the regime faces international condemnation over its ongoing war in Gaza and its plans for the forced displacement of Palestinians.
What he is saying:
In its statement, Ansarullah said the move was “an illegitimate act by an illegitimate regime that has no right to recognize any country.”
The Yemeni movement added that the Israeli move“requires Arab and other Islamic countries to fulfill their responsibility toward collective and regional security,” stressing “the importance of unifying the efforts of the Ummah, both governments and peoples, to thwart Zionist moves and support the Somali people.”
Ansarullah also warned that “silence toward what is happening to the Somali people could lead to the continuation and expansion of the Zionist regime’s aggressions.”
State of play:
On Friday, December 26, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially announced that the regime recognizes “Somaliland” as an independent country.
Key points:
- Somalia has long rejected any international recognition of “Somaliland,” which declared unilateral independence in 1991.
- No major international body recognizes the region as a sovereign state.
- The Israeli regime has increasingly sought strategic footholds near critical maritime routes.
- Following the announcement, the Zionist newspaper Israel Hayom revealed that Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, head of the “Somaliland” separatist administration, traveled to the occupied territories in October as part of secret negotiations.
According to the report, Abdullahi met with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar in occupied al-Quds.
Go deeper:
The Horn of Africa has become an arena of intensifying competition involving regional and extra-regional actors, with Israel’s reported engagement in “Somaliland” marking a significant escalation in efforts to reshape alliances under the guise of diplomatic recognition.
Zohre Khazaee - M.a.Mahmoudi
