Why di recognition of Somaliland dey cause reactions

Israel don take di controversial decision to recognise di breakaway state of Somaliland as an independent nation, and e don spark condemnation from many oda countries.

Majority of United Nations Security Council members don condemn Israel recognition of Somaliland.

Permanent members of di Council like di United Kingdom and China don reject di move and reaffirm dia support for Somalia sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Di United States na di only Security Council member wey no condemn Israel decision. However, Washington confam say dem neva change dia policy towards Somaliland.

On 26 December, Israel become di first kontri to formally recognise Somalia breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent nation.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu say Israel aim na to immediately expand cooperation in agriculture, health, and technology.

Somaliland President, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, bin call di development "a historic moment".

Recognition by Israel fit encourage oda nations to do di same, as e go increase di region diplomatic credentials and access to international markets.

But dis no be di case, as Somalia plus dozens of countries and organisations, like Turkey, Saudi Arabia and di African Union don condemn Israel surprise declaration.

Somalia Prime minister, Hamza Abdi Barre, tok say im kontri categorically and wit full force reject wetin e call deliberate attack by Israel on dia sovereignty.

Somaliland president for statement tok say di kontri go Abraham Accords, for wetin e call a step toward regional and global peace.

Somaliland dey committed to building partnerships, boosting mutual prosperity and promoting stability across di Middle East and Africa, e add.

Meanwhile, Foreign ministers of Somalia, Nigeria, Egypt, Turkey and Djibouti, for statement tok dia "total rejection" of Israel announcement.

Also, di African Union (AU), di Arab League, di Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and di Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) don join many kontries and foreign ministers to condemn Israel formal recognition of di Somalia breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent state.

Regional groups, neighbouring countries reject di recognition of Somaliland as independent state

Asides from di Foreign ministers of Somalia, Nigeria, Egypt, Turkey and Djibouti, among oda neighbouring states wey tok dia "total rejection" of Israel announcement, di African Union (AU), di Arab League, di Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and di Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also join to condemn Israel formal recognition of di Somalia breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent state.

Di African Union say di AU reject Israel move and warn say e dey risky "as e go set dangerous precedent wey go get far-reaching implications for peace and stability across di continent".

For statement wey di Chairman, Mahmoud Ali YoussoufIn issue, e say di institution "firmly reject any initiative or action aimed at recognising Somaliland as an independent entity, e recall say Somaliland continue to be an integral part of di Federal Republic of Somalia".

Nigeria govment also kick against di recognition of Somaliland. Di Ministry of Foreign Affairs for statement say di govment stand gidigba for di back of Somalia sovereignty, unity and statehood.

"Nigeria recognise di Government of Somalia as di legitimate authority wey dey represent di Somali pipo and hail dia continued efforts to achieve peace, security, and national reconciliation for di middle of significant challenges," di statement tok.

Also, Egypt foreign minister hold separate phone calls wit im counterparts for Somalia, Turkey and Djibouti to discuss issues wey include declaration.

For separate joint statement, di foreign ministers of Jordan, Egypt, Algeria, Djibouti, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq and more dan one dozen oda countries, plus di Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), condemn Israel decision.

Dem describe di recognition of Somaliland as an "unprecedented measure" wey get "serious repercussions on peace and security for di Horn of Africa and di Red Sea."

Di ministers say di move constitute "a grave violation of di principles of international law and di United Nations Charter," particularly provisions safeguarding di sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.

Dem reaffirm dia "full support for di sovereignty of di Federal Republic of Somalia" and reject "any measures wey fit undermine dia unity or territorial integrity."

Di statement also warn say recognising breakaway regions of sovereign states go set "a dangerous precedent" wey fit threaten international peace and security.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit call Israel action "clear violation of international law plus flagrant infringement of di principle of di unity and sovereignty of states".

"Any attempt to impose unilateral recognitions constitute an unacceptable interference for Somalia internal affairs and set dangerous precedent wey fit threaten regional and international security and stability," e warn.

However, some kontries like Taiwan, Kurdistan and State of Palestine don declare support for Somaliland recognition.

Also, di United Nations Security Council also dey plan to meet to discuss Somalia breakaway region of Somaliland - and specifically di recent decision by Israel to formally recognise am as an independent state.

Meanwhile, Israel and Somaliland don agree to establish "full diplomatic ties, wey go include di appointment of ambassadors and di opening of embassies", Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar tok for one statement on X.

"I don instruct my ministry to act immediately to institutionalise ties between di two countries across a wide range of fields," e tok.

Why Somaliland want independence?

Somaliland, one region for di Horn of Africa bin declare independence from Somalia for 1991 and for years, don dey push for international recognition for decades, wit President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi making it a top priority since e take ova office for 2024.

Somaliland na one breakaway, semi-desert territory for di coast of the Gulf of Aden, dem declare independence afta di overthrow of Somali military dictator Siad Barre for 1991.

Di move follow one secessionist struggle during where Siad Barre forces pursue rebel guerrillas for di territory. Tens of thousands of pipo die and dem reduce many towns.

Somaliland get working political system, govment institutions, police force and dia own currency.

Di former British protectorate don also escape much of di chaos and violence wey plague Somalia.

Wit a population of almost six million, di republic dey di centre of several regional disputes wey involve Somalia, Ethiopia and Egypt.

Dos wey dey in favour of Somaliland independence argue say pipo wey come from Isaaq clan - one ethnic difference from di rest of Somalia, na dem form majority of di population.

Also, Somaliland dey enjoy relative peace and stability. Dia supporters argue say dem no suppose join body wit Somalia, wey for long dey affected by Islamist militant attacks.

However, Somalia consider Somaliland to be fundamental part of dia territory. Di govment for Somalia capital city, Mogadishu, don repeatedly tok say any recognition of Somaliland independence go violate Somalia sovereignty.

Why Israel recognise Somaliland as an independent state?

For one phone call wit Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tok say im kontri dey acknowledge Somaliland "right of self-determination".

E also say official recognition go be "a great opportunity for expanding" di kontris dia partnership.

However, analysts say strategic reasons dey for Israel declaration.

"Israel require allies for di Red Sea region for many strategic reasons, among dem na di possibility of a future campaign against di Houthis," Israeli think tank di Institute for National Security Studies tok as e refer to Yemen Iran-backed rebels, for one paper last month.

"Somaliland na ideal candidate for dat kain cooperation as e fit offer Israel potential access to one operational area close to di conflict zone."

Israel don repeatedly strike targets for Yemen afta di Gaza war wey break out for October 2023, in response to Houthi attacks on Israel wey di rebels tok say dey in solidarity wit Palestinians for di Gaza Strip.

In response to Israel recognising Somaliland, di Houthis don warn say any Israeli presence for Somaliland go dey considered a "military target" for dia forces.

Few months ago, some news outlets bin report say Israel contact Somaliland ova di potential resettlement of Palestinians wey dem use force remove from Gaza.

Israel no comment on di reports, but at di time, Somaliland tok say any move by Israel to recognise dia independence no go get anything to do wit di Palestinian issue.

Both Somalia and di Palestinian Authority don suggest say Israel recognition of Somaliland fit dey linked to one plan to displace Palestinians.

"Somalia no go ever allow make dem use force remove di pipo of Palestine from dia rightful land go faraway place," Somalia president tell im parliament on Sunday.

Offering im perspective, US-based Africa analyst Cameron Hudson tell BBC say Israel recognise Somaliland bicos dem dey try counter Iran influence for di Red Sea region.

"Di Red Sea na waterway for weapons and fighters to flow up di Red Sea into di Eastern Mediterranean. Di Red Sea traditionally na source of support and supply to fighters for Gaza. And so having a presence, having a security presence, having an intelligence presence for di mouth of di Red Sea go only serve Israel national security interests," e tok.