Middle East 24 reports that over 20 countries—including the U.S., UK, UAE, and Israel—are preparing to recognize Somaliland, with talks underway to join the Abraham Accords. President Irro hints at December recognition.
The diplomatic winds may be shifting dramatically in the Horn of Africa.
According to Middle East 24, Somaliland is on the verge of a historic breakthrough: over two dozen countries—including the United States, United Kingdom, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates—are reportedly nearing a formal agreement to recognize Somaliland as an independent state.
If confirmed, this would not only end decades of legal limbo since Somaliland declared back its 1960 independence in 1991, but it would also mark a profound geopolitical reordering across the Red Sea and the Middle East.
Sources cited in African media outlets claim the recognition deal is in “final stages,” potentially unfolding in the coming months.
Among the biggest developments is Somaliland’s reported invitation to join the Abraham Accords—an Israeli-led diplomatic initiative that normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations.
Somaliland’s addition would be unprecedented, cementing its role as a future node in regional diplomacy and trade, particularly given its strategic Berbera port on the Gulf of Aden.
President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro has made increasingly confident statements over the past few months, repeatedly asserting that recognition is close.
In recent speeches, he has hinted—without naming countries directly—that December 2025 could be a decisive turning point.
In Erigavo last week, Irro said he had personally sent letters to global leaders requesting recognition and had received “encouraging responses.” Months earlier, in Berbera, he assured the local community that Somaliland’s international status would change within his tenure.
His quiet diplomacy has been relentless. Since his election, Irro has visited the UAE three times, participated in global summits, and is preparing to travel to Washington, where bipartisan support for Somaliland recognition has been growing steadily.
A bill is already before the U.S. Senate.
Though details remain under wraps, regional observers suggest the UAE—Somaliland’s largest investor—is actively facilitating the behind-the-scenes process.
Israel’s inclusion points to broader strategic realignments, especially amid rising maritime tensions in the Red Sea.
If the recognition moves forward, it will dramatically alter the Horn of Africa’s political map and send ripples through the African Union and Arab League alike.
For now, Somalilanders are watching and waiting—but this time, with hope tethered to real diplomatic momentum.
