There are moments in history when silence becomes a position.
And moments when recognition is not diplomacy — but alignment.
Israel’s decision to recognise Republic of Somaliland on 26 December 2025, framed as “Abraham Accords–style pragmatism,” has triggered celebrations in Hargeisa — and condemnation across the Muslim world.
This is not a post written to deny Somalilanders their pain.
Nor to erase their struggle for self-determination.
It is written to ask a harder, adult question:
At what cost does recognition come — and who pays it?
Somalia vs Somaliland: A Necessary Distinction (Not a Convenient One)
Let’s be precise.
Somalia (Federal Republic)
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Internationally recognised UN member state
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Long history of centralised violence
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Responsible for the Isaak genocide (1960–1991), documented by Yale Genocide Studies Program
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Consistently pro-Palestine, anti-Israel in state policy
Somaliland
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De facto independent since 1991
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100% Sunni Muslim society
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Built relative stability without international recognition
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Victim — not beneficiary — of Somalia’s past crimes
- Anti-Al-Shabaab
These facts can coexist.
Acknowledging Somalia’s crimes against Somaliland does not require shaking hands with an occupying power elsewhere.
Two injustices do not cancel each other out.
