By AFP and ReutersPublished On 18 May 202618 May 2026Somaliland has marked its first year of independence following recognition by Israel, but not everyone in the breakaway region of Somalia is celebrating its new ally.Thousands gathered in the capital Hargeisa on Monday for a military parade and traditional dances. Excitement was heightened after Israel’s decision in December to recognise Somaliland’s independence – the first country to do so since autonomy from Somalia was declared in 1991.“Somaliland has fulfilled all the requirements of a responsible, peaceful, law-abiding and democratic nation,” President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi told the crowd. “The question Somaliland asks the world is no longer whether we deserve recognition, but when.”Somaliland’s leaders say the territory’s stability, relative democracy and location on the Gulf of Aden – close to key shipping lanes and conflict-torn Yemen – make it a strategic military and trading hub.They had hoped other partners, including the United States, United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia, would follow Israel’s lead, but recognition has not yet broadened.Secession remains highly contentious. The African Union and many international partners oppose formal recognition, fearing it could embolden other separatist movements on the continent.Israel’s move has also divided opinion inside Somaliland, and it almost entirely Muslim population. Some in the heartland have embraced the new relationship, with Israeli flags appearing in homes and businesses. Others view the alliance with deep suspicion, especially as Israel continues its war on Gaza. Advertisement Local activists say dozens of people – including religious scholars and young men carrying Palestinian flags – have been arrest …
