HARGEISA (SD)— Somaliland has reportedly received assurances from Israel that its recognition of Somaliland will remain in place, even if Israel’s government changes.

According to Israel’s public broadcaster KAN News, Somaliland officials contacted Jerusalem after recent elections weakened Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s position and raised the possibility of a new government.

Israeli officials told Somaliland that recognition is a long-term commitment and would not depend on which political party leads the government.

The assurances are important for Somaliland, which declared its independence in 1991 and has spent decades seeking international recognition. Israel became the first UN member state to formally recognise Somaliland in December 2025, according to the report.

Relations between the two sides have continued to develop. Israel’s envoy recently presented diplomatic credentials to Somaliland’s President, and plans for an Israeli embassy in Hargeisa have moved forward.

For Somaliland, the assurances offer confidence that its diplomatic ties with Israel will continue despite political changes in Jerusalem. The relationship is also an important step in Somaliland’s efforts to build international partnerships and strengthen its position abroad.

Somalia’s federal government continues to reject Somaliland’s independence and opposes foreign recognition.

The reported assurances are a positive development for Somaliland. They suggest that Israel sees its relationship with Hargeisa as a long-term partnership rather than a temporary political decision.

For Somaliland, the main goal is to use this relationship to build stronger ties with other countries. Israeli recognition could also encourage more international discussion about Somaliland’s political status.

However, one country’s recognition does not guarantee wider international acceptance. Somaliland will still need to convince other governments, especially major international powers and African countries, to support its case.

The coming months will show whether Somaliland can turn its relationship with Israel into wider diplomatic support and stronger international partnerships.