Israel defies criticism over Somaliland

Grants recognition to self-proclaimed republic

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Israel defied mounting criticism yesterday over its decision to recognise Somaliland as a sovereign state, and insisted no outside power has the right to question its foreign policy choices.

Israel announced on Friday that it was officially recognising Somaliland, a first for the self-proclaimed republic, which in 1991 declared it had unilaterally separated from Somalia.

Israel’s move has drawn widespread criticism from the African Union, Egypt and the European Union, which insist on war-torn Somalia’s sovereignty.