Hundreds of people gathered in public squares across Somaliland to celebrate after Israel announced its recognition of Somaliland as an independent state. The celebrations included crowds waving Somaliland and Israeli flags, chanting slogans, and welcoming foreign journalists who were seen publicly displaying the Israeli flag alongside local supporters.
Many residents described the moment as historic, saying the recognition marked international acknowledgment of Somaliland’s more than three decades of self-governance since it declared independence from Somalia in 1991, despite never holding a referendum with the Somali federal government.
In contrast, southern and central Somalia witnessed protests against the decision, with demonstrators condemning Israel’s recognition as a violation of Somalia’s territorial integrity. Protesters in cities such as Mogadishu rejected the move and called for national unity, while Somali officials criticized the recognition as illegitimate.
Somaliland remains a breakaway region that has operated independently but is still internationally regarded by most countries as part of Somalia, making Israel’s decision a deeply divisive development across the Somali territories.