00:00Israel's recognition obviously comes at an extremely fragile time, both in the Middle East and Eastern Africa, given Somaliland's strategic location.
00:11Israel's move does have the potential to upset the balance of power.
00:15The African Union, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey, amongst others, have warned that it could have a destabilising effect across the region.
00:24And importantly, it could disrupt, according to regional analysts, control of key shipping lanes that also serve as a route to transfer arms to various places, such as Sudan.
00:37So, Tobias, you were talking about distraction, destabilisation.
00:43Is Israel bringing fire to a powder keg of this region?
00:48Is Israel trying to provoke a conflict?
00:50Whether it's trying to provoke a conflict or not, as I say, I'm saddened by Prime Minister Netanyahu's ability to think strategically.
00:59I mean, we've discussed this in previous programmes where his superior utility of force in Gaza didn't really lead to any political direction of travel.
01:10It was just pure destruction for the sake of it.
01:13And now we see him signing up to support Somaliland's push for independence.
01:18But all this will do is actually potentially bring war to Somaliland.
01:24It's a possibility now that the Houthis will target Israelis, Jews or so forth, those connected in Somaliland itself.
01:33So, as your question implies, it could certainly make the Horn of Africa more dangerous.
01:39And then there's Iran as well, trying to counter Iran's influence.
01:45There's an absence of grand strategy as to what you do about the Red Sea region, which, again, as your question implies,
01:51seems to be a conduit for weapons and fighters to flow in and out of eastern Mediterranean and into that neck of the woods.
01:59And then, of course, further down, we've got that whole basket case of Sudan as well.
02:04So, this is a very, very difficult time for East Africa.
02:09I would humbly say to our friend from Somaliland, you know, I'm sorry that Britain didn't do enough in my time to listen to your genuine requests to pursue independence.
02:23I wish I could have done more.
02:24But you're not in good company now with Prime Minister Netanyahu.
02:28You really are not.
02:28But we're now discussing this.
02:31It's back on the international spotlight.
02:34So, perhaps this is the moment to take advantage of this and offer a potential direction of travel,
02:42to make your case again, because the world is now looking very carefully at where on earth Somaliland is on the map in many cases,
02:49in many diplomatic corridors, and why you pursuing this, have been pursuing it since the 1990s.
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