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Israel recognises Somaliland, Somalia's breakaway region, as independent state

AL-Monitor
Dec 26, 2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a joint press conference with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (not pictured) after a trilateral meeting at the Citadel of David Hotel, in Jerusalem, December 22, 2025. ABIR SULTAN/Pool via REUTERS
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a joint press conference with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (not pictured) after a trilateral meeting at the Citadel of David Hotel, in Jerusalem, December 22, 2025. ABIR SULTAN/Pool via REUTERS — ABIR SULTAN

(Fixes spelling in "breakaway" in headline)

Dec 26 (Reuters) - Israel has recognised Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, as an "independent and sovereign state," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday, making Israel the first country to do so.

(Reporting by Maayan Lubell and George Obulutsa, Editing by Louise Heavens)