Foreign relations of Somaliland

[1] The region's self-declaration of independence (from Somalia on 18 May 1991, after the start of ongoing Somali Civil War) remains unrecognised by the international community.

In February 2010, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yigal Palmor was quoted in the Haaretz Daily that his government was ready to recognise Somaliland again.

In 1995, former President Egal of Somaliland also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin seeking to establish diplomatic ties between the two countries.

[19] In September 2001, it was also reported that Somaliland was looking towards Tel Aviv after Saudi Arabia banned imports of livestock from the country due to Rift Valley fever.

[20] However, President Kahin, who succeeded Egal, is reported to have avoided approaching Israel to prevent straining fragile relations with the Arab and Muslim world, which it heavily relies for its livestock trade.

[23] In 2019, Somali Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Isse Awad stated that Turkey plays a leading role in the mediation process.

In 2012, Genel Enerji, an energy company mostly owned by Çukurova Holding, signed a deal with the Somaliland government to search oil reserves within the nation.

[28][29] In 2011, the foreign ministers of South Africa and Tanzania said that they would not recognise Somaliland and preferred that Somalia remained a single country.

[31] The African Union (AU) is considering Somaliland's application for membership to the bloc and has indicated a willingness to deal with it as an 'outstanding case'.

[38] In January 2018, Somaliland gained attention from the Philippines, and later East Timor, after legislation outlawing rape is successfully passed.

[39] In November 2009, a Pakistani delegation composed of Sheikh Mansoor Ahmed, Secretary General of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party, Shafiq Ahmed Qureshi, Peace Representative, former diplomat and Senior Consular Officer, and Abdul Razak Dinnaari, an ambassador, visited Somaliland and proposed the opening of a Somaliland trade office in Pakistan.

In 2023, the United States provided $1,000,000 in aid through the International Republican Institute to support training for parliamentarians and other key programs in preparations for the 2024 Somaliland presidential election.

In 2020, the United Kingdom, Denmark and the Netherlands approved four agreements with the government of Somaliland to improve critical infrastructure to support economic growth.

On 4 July 2023, Gavin Williamson proposed a bill to the UK Parliament that would require the United Kingdom to recognise the Republic of Somaliland.