Israel’s bold recognition of Somaliland last month highlights a clear strategic calculus: partnering with stable, governance-focused entities in Africa for security, resources, and mutual benefit—countering threats like Houthi disruptions in key shipping lanes.
Mthwakazi (historic Matabeleland in Zimbabwe) offers even greater potential. Rich in critical minerals—including vast platinum deposits in the Great Dyke and one of the world’s largest lithium reserves at Bikita—this region holds immense value for Israel’s high-tech economy, defense industries, and global supply chain resilience.
The Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) has publicly backed Israel’s Somaliland move as “strategic foresight” and called for deeper ties, viewing Israel as a vital partner in innovation, security, and democratic governance.
Read the full argument on why the “Palestine Precedent” logically demands consistent application to Mthwakazi’s stronger case for remedial self-determination:
https://grantgochin.substack.com/p/the-palestine-precedent-and-the-matabele
See the MRP’s official statement supporting Somaliland and Israel:
https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/blogs/uploads/2026/01/DOC-20260110-WA0081.pdf
And recent local coverage:
https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-national-byo-261004.html
Israel’s vision, fortitude, and resilience—coupled with its unmatched strategic thinking—continue to propel the nation toward greater security, prosperity, and influence on the global stage. By thoughtfully extending this forward-looking approach to emerging opportunities like Mthwakazi, Israel can further secure its future while championing principles of consistent self-determination and mutual benefit. This path of principled innovation and unwavering strength points toward enduring greatness for Israel and its partners.
Grant Arthur Gochin is a diplomat, author, researcher, and wealth advisor whose public work focuses on historical accountability, Jewish continuity, antisemitism, and recognition doctrine.
He serves as Honorary Consul for the Republic of Togo and as Emeritus Dean and a Member at Large of the Executive Committee of the Los Angeles Consular Corps. From 2018 to 2020, he served as Special Envoy for Diaspora Affairs with the African Union Mission to the United States.
Gochin also serves, in a voluntary, unremunerated and non-executive capacity, as Advisor on Recognition Doctrine and Sovereignty to the Mthwakazi Republic Party, Office of the President. His work there concerns international recognition, sovereignty, state continuity, comparative precedent and remedial self-determination. Unless expressly stated otherwise, his published views are his own and do not represent the positions of any government or institution with which he is or has been associated.
His philanthropic work in Togo led to his investiture as Chief of the Village of Babade.
For several decades, Gochin has researched Holocaust history, Jewish heritage and historical memory in Lithuania. He served as Chair of the Maceva Project, working on the documentation, preservation and restoration of abandoned and neglected Jewish cemeteries. His archival research, litigation and public advocacy have focused particularly on the treatment of Holocaust perpetrators and collaborators in Lithuanian state memory and on documented instances of Holocaust distortion by state institutions.
He is the author of Malice, Murder and Manipulation (2013), which traces the destruction of his family in Lithuania and examines subsequent historical distortion. His writing regularly addresses antisemitism, Holocaust memory, governmental misinformation, Israel’s legitimacy and security, and the political use of historical narratives.
Gochin is a PhD candidate in Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Gratz College. His research examines institutional responses to documented claims concerning Holocaust memory, historical accountability and post-genocide historical revisionism.
Professionally, Gochin is a Certified Financial Planner™ and wealth advisor based in California. He holds an MBA earned with academic honors and leads Grant Arthur & Associates Wealth Services.
He lives in Los Angeles with his husband, son, and dog, Kelev.
www.grantgochin.com
