Israel is the first country in the world to recognize the independence of Somaliland 0 13

Israel has officially recognized Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state. The parties signed a declaration, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reported.

It is noted that the parties intend to expand relations through cooperation in agriculture, healthcare, technology, and the economy.

In April, Somaliland offered the U.S. to lease a port and an airstrip in exchange for recognition of the country. The airstrip is one of the longest in Africa (about 4.1 kilometers), built by the USSR in the 1970s.

In 1960, British Somaliland (north) and Italian Somalia (south) united to form the Somali Republic. The USSR established diplomatic relations with Somalia in 1960 and began providing it with economic and technical assistance. Somaliland declared independence in 1991 but has remained unrecognized by any country to this day.