Somaliland is an autonomous region in northern Somalia that has sought independence since the 1990's. Declaring its own secession from Somalia, yet without being recognized by international organisations like the United Nations.
Recently, Israel recognized Somaliland as an independent and sovereign country and established diplomatic relations on December 26, 2025. However, this move was widely condemned by the international community (such as China, the Arab League, the African Union, and the United Kingdom), reiterating its support for Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and emphasizing that any status change requires dialogue. Therefore, international mainstream views still regard Somaliland as part of Somalia, not as an independent and sovereign country.
Israel might have its reasons for that, possibly hoping to increase its military presence in a region which is strategically important to ensure Israeli ship traffic in the southern Red Sea, namely in the Strait of Hormuz where Israel's enemy Yemen is quite near.
On its 2nd page for December 30, 2025, China's official paper "People's Daily", overseas edition, expressed concern and opposition to Israel's step to establish diplomatic relations with Somaliland, a step that simultaneously raised the suspicion of other regional players.
This comes shortly before China's foreign envoyee Wang Yi is starting his traditional visit to African states at the beginning of the year, this time first visiting Somalia's capital Mogadishu. China's interest for Africa makes part of a global initiative to extend its economic and political ties.
Declaration of China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian
at the ministry's regular press conference on Dec. 29, 2025:
外交部发言人—中方坚决反对以色列承认索马里兰
China firmly opposes Israel's recognition of Somaliland.
Quotation:
Dr. Amani al-Taweel, the Director of the African Program at Al-Ahram Center for Studies, believes that the step reflects an Israeli insistence on pursuing policies that ignore the African and regional contexts, even if it leads to a clash with countries with direct interests in the region.
She considered that this was taking place under American cover. She adds that the most dangerous thing is a transformation of the 'Normalization with Israel' into a tool that grants political legitimacy to separatist entities, which may encourage similar movements at the Horn of Africa and Sudan.
وترى مديرة البرنامج الأفريقي بمركز الأهرام للدراسات، الدكتورة أماني الطويل، أن الخطوة تعكس إصرارا إسرائيليا على انتهاج سياسات تتجاهل السياقين الأفريقي والإقليمي، حتى لو أدت إلى صدام مع دول ذات مصالح مباشرة في المنطقة
واعتبرت أن ذلك يجري في ظل غطاء أميركي. وتضيف أن الأخطر هو تحوّل التطبيع مع إسرائيل إلى أداة تمنح شرعية سياسية لكيانات انفصالية، بما قد يشجع حركات مماثلة في القرن الأفريقي والسودان
Further News of the Day:
While searching the Arabic networks for additional material on Israel's approach of Somaliland, I stumbled over the Latest Trump Cheese. It is about his announcement to fight Mexican drug gangs on the ground. Same goes with Colombia. And Cuba isn't even worth dealing with. All Trump could do to Cuba, so he said, is to seize or destroy it. If my readers argue the above quoted paper stems from Yemen, I can assure you that the same information is just being disseminated by serious Western media like Deutsche Welle DW.
Trump is simply going on a rampage, and he seemingly doesn't need any drugs for that.
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