Somaliland’s lost and forgotten Jews

Peloni:  The following article provides an important context to Israel’s outreach to Somaliland.  Indeed, Israel’s recent recognition of Somaliland should be understood beyond its geopolitical and security relevance, with an understanding of the largely forgotten historical grasp of Somaliland’s deep and persistent Jewish past. Long before modern diplomacy, Jewish communities lived and traded while practicing their faith across the Somali Peninsula, particularly in key port cities such as Zeila and Berbera. Positioned along vital maritime and caravan routes linking East Africa, Arabia, and the Indian Ocean, Somaliland naturally attracted Jewish merchants, especially Adeni and Yemenite Jews, who played important roles in regional commerce.

Near Hargeisa, ancient cemeteries marked with Stars of David testify to an established Jewish presence, while Berbera once had a synagogue and a Jewish quarter known as “the alley of the Jews.” By the mid-20th century, nearly all of Somaliland’s Jews emigrated to Israel as part of broader Aliyah movements.

The article also highlights the marginalized Yibir tribe, widely believed in Somali tradition to be of Jewish origin, possibly preserving traces of ancient Jewish identity despite later conversion to Islam. Ultimately, the author contends that Israel’s recognition of Somaliland reconnects two peoples with intertwined histories, broadens understanding of Jewish diaspora in Africa, and underscores Somaliland’s long role as a crossroads of cultures and faiths.

By Michael Freund | Jewish World Review | Published January 12, 2026

Click on the following Link to Read Article

https://jewishworldreview.com/0126/somaliland_jews.php