Diplomatic wrangles in the Horn of Africa have taken a drastic turn after Djibouti cancelled some 1400 passports issued to Somaliland residents.

The move targeted high-ranking officials, traditional elders, and journalists following the 26th of December 2025 pronouncement of Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as a sovereign state.

For decades, Djibouti has provided passports to the leadership and the elite of Somaliland. Because Somaliland’s own travel documents are not recognized by the majority of the world, the Djiboutian passport has served as a vital diplomatic lifeline, allowing the Somaliland leaders to travel for state business, medical treatment, and international conferences.

By revoking this document, the government of Djibouti is grinding down a large portion of Somaliland politicians and elites and placing immense pressure on the administration in Hargeisa, who have been on the receiving end over their association with the state of Israel.

The recent pact between Somaliland and the state of Israel has threatened Djibouti’s monopoly in the region, which has acted as a gateway for trade to Ethiopia.
Djibouti has aligned itself with the sovereignty of the federal republic of Somalia and has also condemned Israel for violating Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The passport revocation follows a series of rapid diplomatic spats between Djibouti and Somaliland, where Djibouti ordered the closure of the Somaliland diplomatic liaison office earlier this month.

Both Hargesia and Djibouti have recalled their ambassadors, and in a direct retaliatory move, Somaliland issued an aviation ban to all Air Djibouti flights on January 7th, 2026, cutting links between Djibouti and Somaliland.

Over 1400 Somaliland residents have been left in limbo and will have to revert back to the Mogadishu government to acquire travel documents.