In December 2025, Israel officially recognized the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, a decision that could reshape regional dynamics and challenge Somalia’s long-standing opposition to secession.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would immediately establish cooperation with Somaliland in the areas of agriculture, health, technology, and the economy. In a statement, he congratulated Somaliland’s President, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, praised his leadership, and invited him to visit Israel.
Claim
There is a
video circulating online showing U.S. President Donald Trump saying, “I thank the Israeli government for recognising Somaliland. Somaliland will also be recognised by many countries around the world, including the United States, Africa, Arabs, and other European countries are also ready.”
Verdict
JamiiCheck’s verification, conducted through Google Reverse Image Search, traced the circulated video to its
original footage from 13 January 2021, during former President Donald Trump’s first term in office.
The footage shows Trump delivering a televised address from the Oval Office focused on U.S. domestic issues, including calls for calm following political unrest and his second impeachment. Notably, in the original address, Trump makes no reference to Somaliland or to Israel’s recognition of any territory in the Horn of Africa.
Using digital verification tools, it was established that the video was manipulated using artificial intelligence from the original footage to create a fabricated clip. Additionally, the video displays several inconsistencies, including a mismatch between the audio and the speaker’s lip movements.
