Israeli Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar has visited Somaliland, his first visit there since his government’s contentious move to formally recognize the breakaway Somali territory as a sovereign state.
Somaliland’s Information Ministry said in a post on X that Sa’ar and his delegation were received by senior members of the Somaliland Cabinet when they landed at the airport in Hargeisa. The ministry described the visit as a milestone in bilateral relations.
Sa’ar met with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, also known as Irro, and other Somaliland government officials at the presidential palace.
In a statement on X, Sa’ar disclosed that he had held talks “on the full range of relations” with Somaliland’s President in the capital Hargeisa. “We are determined to vigorously advance relations between Israel and Somaliland,” Saar wrote on X.
Sa’ar said that Abdullahi had accepted an invitation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to make an official visit to Israel.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 during a descent into conflict that continues to leave the east African country fragile.
Despite having its own government and currency, Somaliland had never before been recognized by any nation.
Somaliland, which is arid, lies on the Gulf of Aden across from Yemen and next to Djibouti, which hosts military bases for the US, China, France and several other
Somalia’s federal government insists Somaliland remains an integral part of Somali territory and warns that recognition undermines Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Israel’s announcement on December 26, 2025 that it had recognized Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state quickly drew condemnation from many countries.
More than 20 mostly Middle Eastern or African countries and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation rejected Israel’s move.
Israel To Open Embassy In Somaliland
The Israeli Foreign Minister announced amid his visit that Israel would soon open an embassy in Somaliland.
Somaliland, once a British protectorate, has long sought formal recognition as an independent state although it has signed bilateral agreements with various governments on investments and security coordination.
Saar’s visit comes 10 days after Israel formally recognised the self-declared republic as an independent and sovereign state.
Israel is the only country that has formally recognised Somaliland’s move to break away from Somalia, which described Israel’s decision on recognition as an “unlawful step.”
Israel’s decision to become the first country to recognize Somaliland has been criticized or rejected by the African Union and others.
Somalia said today that it “condemns in the strongest terms the unauthorized incursion” by Gideon Saar, describing his visit to Somaliland as “an unacceptable interference in the internal affairs” of Somalia.
Egyptian Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty also said in a statement today that Israeli recognition of Somaliland was a “dangerous precedent that threatens regional and international peace and security.”
While meeting with the Somaliland leader, Sa’ar said that Israel was undeterred by the criticism and that the two governments would “soon” open embassies and appoint ambassadors, according to a transcript shared with a news agency.
“We hear the attacks, the criticism, the condemnations. Nobody will determine for Israel who we recognize and who we maintain diplomatic relations with.”
Gideon Sa’ar
Israel’s decision to recognise Somaliland follows two years of strained ties with many of its closest partners over the war in Gaza and policies in the West Bank.
Netanyahu has said that Israel will pursue cooperation in agriculture, health, technology and the economy.
Following his visit, Sa’ar said that “local professionals” from Somaliland’s water sector would visit Israel in the coming months for training.
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