In late December Israel became the first country in the world to recognise Somaliland as an independent sovereign state, in a move that could help stimulate investment in the previously isolated territory but which some analysts fear could also significantly increase risk levels in the Horn of Africa.
Israel's foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar announced that Israel and Somaliland would establish full diplomatic relations. Somaliland has acted as a de facto independent state since breaking away from Somalia in 1991 but, until now, had yet to be officially recognised by any member of the UN.
Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud branded Israel's move a "naked invasion" and the "greatest abuse" of Somali sovereignty in its history. Somali lawmakers passed a symbolic motion to declare the recognition "null and void". The African Union AU Political Affairs, Peace and Security Council also denounced Israel's gesture: "the Council strongly condemns, in the strongest terms, the unilateral recognition of the so-called 'Republic of Somaliland' by Israel." Egypt, Turkey, the Gulf Cooperation Council GCC and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation all also condemned the recognition.
