Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz stated that Israel has been cooperating with Somaliland in a number of undisclosed operations for many years.
Katz revealed that Israel has maintained cooperation with Somaliland, the self-declared independent region that broke away from Somalia, through various secret operations conducted over the years.
According to a statement from the Israeli Ministry of Defense, Katz met with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi during the latter’s visit to Israel. Senior officials from the Israeli military and the Ministry of Defense also attended the meeting.
Following the talks, Katz emphasized the long-standing relationship between the two sides, saying:
“For many years, we have cooperated in a series of operations that were kept away from public attention. Now, we are determined to elevate our security cooperation to new levels for the benefit of both peoples and for regional stability.”
The statement is regarded as one of the clearest acknowledgments to date regarding the scope of contacts between Israel and Somaliland.
The Somaliland administration opened an embassy in Jerusalem on June 15. During his visit to Israel, Abdullahi also met with President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel: The Only Country to Recognize Somaliland
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously announced that Israel recognizes Somaliland as an “independent and sovereign state.” With this decision, Israel became the first and, so far, the only country to officially recognize Somaliland.
Although Somaliland declared its separation from Somalia in 1991, it has not been recognized as an independent state by the international community.
The government in Mogadishu continues to regard Somaliland as an integral part of Somalia. Somali authorities maintain that all international agreements and diplomatic initiatives concerning the region fall exclusively under the authority of the federal government.