"Massive celebrations erupted in Hargeisa on Saturday, as crowds were dancing and chanting in the streets to celebrate Israel's decision to recognise Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent nation. "To Somalia I say: 'Hassan, goodbye. We have been recognised. We are leaving you. Farewell!" a resident exclaimed. "This is a victory, a victory achieved for Somaliland," another local said. "Thanks be to God that, while I am on my own land, the recognition has come, and the government I invested my efforts in is in office." This comes after Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that Israel and Somaliland had signed a joint declaration to establish full diplomatic relations, describing the move as being 'in the spirit of the Abraham Accords', the US-brokered agreements normalising ties between Israel and several Arab states. Somalia slammed Israel over the announcement, calling it a 'deliberate attack' on its sovereignty. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 following the collapse of the central government during the civil war. Since then, it has operated as a self-governing entity with its own military and state institutions."