US reaffirms Somali sovereignty in blow to Somaliland and Israel

US reaffirms Somali sovereignty in blow to Somaliland and Israel Submitted by Oscar Rickett on Tue, 06/02/2026 - 16:06 State Department report 'effectively closes the door on any lingering hopes of US recognition for Somaliland', which is recognised by Israel Somaliland military armed vehicles take part in a parade during the self-declared Independence Day, with celebrations commemorating their 1991 breakaway from Somalia, on 18 May 2026 (Reuters) Off The US has reaffirmed “the sovereignty and territorial integrity” of Somalia, in a move seen as a blow to Somaliland, the breakaway region recently recognised by Israel and close to the United Arab Emirates .  In a report to Congress on “Potential Areas for Improved United States Engagement with Somaliland”, the US State Department stated that Somaliland was included in the Federal Republic of Somalia. “Within that framework, the United States maintains a positive, constructive relationship with Somaliland and continues to explore additional opportunities for engagement with Somaliland authorities,” the report says.  Israel became the first country in the world to formally recognise Somaliland on 26 December last year. The month before, Somaliland President Abdirahman Abdullahi Mohamed secretly visited Israel, meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other “top officials”, according to multiple sources in Somalia and Somaliland.  Those other officials included Mossad chief David Barnea and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who visited Somaliland immediately after Israel formally recognised the former British colony’s sovereignty.  'Recognition is bigger than anything else. Do you have an...

Original source: Middle East Eye