Somaliland map (Credit: BBC)
One may wonder about Israel's business in Somaliland, an African de facto state on the coast of the Gulf of Aden. The Jewish state doesn't share a border with this region, nor is there any ideological or political slugfest between the two. Somaliland did not even publicly expressed its disagreement with Israeli genocide and mass murder in Gaza, as was done by South Africa. In no way does Israel have any stake in the affairs of this state that broke away from mainland Somalia in 1991 and is being ruled with all the trappings of a state, except recognition by the international community.
But the strategic move by the Jewish state is not to be viewed as naive. Israel is a country that lives on edge. There are thousands of Home Front Command sirens across the country, and it often makes alarm sounds, and the people rush into the bunkers which they are used to by now. Hence, whatever that country does is, of course, somehow connected with security. The Zionist regime would do whatever it could to defend the security threats.
There lies the thread. Horn of Africa, the easternmost region of the African continent, extends to the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. This maritime area has pivotal geographical significance. It's not merely a busy navigation route. It's a strategic point with Yemen on the eastern coast of the Red Sea. In Yemen, the Houthis have dominance, and the they have carried out more than 100 attacks against merchant ships in the Red Sea since 2023. The Yemen-based militant group mostly targeted US and Israeli ships in solidarity with Palestinians.
Houthis pose a perennial threat to the US and Israel, and a years-long military campaign by the US has not eliminated this maritime threat. If Israel could get an upper hand in the region, it would indeed change the scenario. Somaliland, a close ally of some Gulf countries, acts according to the dictates of the rich Gulf countries. These countries have economic and commercial interests in Somaliland, and are said to secretly support Israel to win over the Houthis. The African state depends more on Gulf countries for its economic stability.
For Israel, a military base in Somaliland can be a shot in the arm. It can operate well against the Houthis and possibly Iran from the Red Sea point. In return, Somaliland would get Israeli and, most probably US recognition. It's said that the Somaliland leadership has been offered money for the tactical move.
The resettlement of Palestinians is also on the table. Though Somaliland rulers have denied the settlement plan, Israel keeps a meaningful silence. The displaced Palestinians from Gaza can be resettled in the African state; in return, Israel agreed to the much-needed official recognition. If Israel recognized a country, that means that the US has a hand in it.
It's pertinent to note that Somaliland has expressed its willingness to join the Abraham Accords cooked up by Trump. The reading on the wall is evident: the US and its oil-rich allies in the Arabian desert have the knowledge and support for the Jewish move.
The predominantly Muslim majority of Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 after the collapse of Siad Barre’s two-decade-long military rule. There was widespread discontent among the people, and a civil war started against the regime, which culminated in the fall of the regime.
Soon after the expulsion of Barre, the north of the country declared independence under the leadership of Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur, the leader of the Isaac clan. Though the self-declared republic is yet to be recognized by the UN and other countries, the region has its own democratically elected government, military, currency, and passport. Somalia, the mother country, still considers the breakaway state as part of its own territory. That's why Somalia and the African Union have vehemently opposed the Israeli announcement. The Arab League, GCC, and OIC also have expressed their reservation. But the elephant is in the room. None has the nerve to say it publicly.