The recent recognition of the State of Somaliland–a breakaway autonomous region of Somalia– by the State of Israel, is a transactional step forwarding Israeli strategic interests in Africa. The recognition occurs in the context of Somalia’s stagnating economy and limited outreach to Somaliland, which has acted as a de facto autonomous state entity since 1991, following a civil war. A key factor behind Israel’s decision is its proximity to the Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen–especially the Bab-al-Mandeb strait–which has been a key strategic theater of Houthi activities for disrupting the flow of commerce in retaliation against Israeli attacks on Houthi allies.
The Israeli recognition of Somaliland was followed by a multitude of negative responses from neighboring countries. Qatar and Jordan, in a public statement including 20 other states, strongly condemned the decision, describing it as a flagrant violation of international law. Some diplomatic and political actors also mention an ulterior motive being the displacement of Palestinians into areas like Somaliland where agreements of the sort could be made. This tension has validated feelings of uncertainty with some of Israel’s local strategic allies, including Egypt, who has been pointing out Israeli ambitions to monopolize control of commercial routes on the Red Sea and security hegemony near the Bab-al-Mandeb area.
These sentiments were not shared however, by the UAE, who had been deepening ties with Somaliland and allowing access to Emirati infrastructure, stoking diplomatic tensions with the government of Somalia. The targeting of weak central governments to incite separatist movements and form geopolitical allies is thus headed by Israel and the UAE, who together form an ‘Axis of Secession”. These decisions position a UAE-allied Somaliland against Emirati targets in the southern Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen. The recognition of Somaliland thus marks the dwindling subtleties of liberalism in the world order, and their outdoing by overt interventionism for strategic and financial benefit.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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