Israel criticised after becoming first country to formally recognise Somaliland as independent nation

Israel has been criticised after it became the first country to formally recognise Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent nation.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would seek immediate cooperation with the Republic of Somaliland in agriculture, health, technology and the economy. On Friday he said the declaration "is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, signed at the initiative of President Trump," a reference to an initiative begun in 2020 which established diplomatic and commercial ties between Israel and several Arab and Muslim-majority nations.

However, Somalia's government condemned Israel's move as an "unlawful step" and a "deliberate attack" on its sovereignty, with the prime minister's office rejecting any recognition of Somaliland. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said that Mr Netanyahu's recognition of the territory was "illegal aggression" and "contrary to established legal and diplomatic rules." The European Union also called for respect for Somalia's unity and "meaningful dialogue" between Mogadishu and Somaliland to resolve their differences.

Somaliland, a former British protectorate, declared independence from Somalia when the country descended into civil war in 1991 and has enjoyed effective autonomy, as well as relative peace and stability, since then. The US State Department said it continued to recognise the territorial integrity of Somalia, "which includes the territory of Somaliland".

Read more from Sky News:Thailand and Cambodia sign ceasefire agreementTrump claims ISIS hit by airstrikes in Nigeria 'sketchy' - adviser Earlier this year, Somalia and Somaliland denied receiving a proposal from the US or Israel to resettle Palestinians from Gaza - with Mogadishu saying it categorically rejected any such move. More than 20 mostly Middle Eastern or African countries said they rejected Israel's recognition of Somaliland, "given the serious repercussions of such unprecedented measure on peace and security in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea and its serious effects on international peace and security as a whole." The joint statement, also signed by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, noted "the full rejection of any potential link between such measure and any attempts to forcibly expel the Palestinian people out of their land"..