BRUSSELS, Belgium: The European Union on Saturday insisted Somalia’s sovereignty should be respected after Israel formally recognized its northern region of Somaliland as an independent state. Israel said on Friday it was officially recognizing Somaliland, a first for the self-proclaimed republic that in 1991 declared it had unilaterally seceded from Somalia.

Breakaway region achieves diplomatic breakthrough after more than 30 years without international recognition.

Diplomatic breakthrough comes more than three decades after declaration of independence from Somalia