Israel’s foreign minister has arrived in Somaliland on a landmark visit, the first by a senior Israeli official since Israel formally recognised the breakaway region as an independent state last month.
Gideon Sa’ar landed in Somaliland’s capital, Hargeisa, on Tuesday and held talks with President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, Somaliland government sources told the BBC. The visit is widely seen as a follow-up to Israel’s controversial decision to recognise Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia more than three decades ago.
Somaliland’s presidency confirmed Sa’ar’s arrival in a post on X, describing the visit as part of efforts to deepen diplomatic engagement. A diplomatic source in Hargeisa said the talks are expected to focus on strengthening political and strategic cooperation between the two sides.
Israel’s foreign ministry has not issued an official statement on the trip.
Israel became the first country to recognise Somaliland in December, a move hailed by Somaliland’s leadership as “historic” but fiercely rejected by Somalia, which considers the territory an inseparable part of its sovereign land.
Somaliland declared independence in 1991 following the collapse of the regime of former Somali leader Siad Barre. Despite maintaining its own government, security forces and elections, it has remained largely unrecognised internationally.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the recognition by citing Somaliland’s “right to self-determination,” a position that triggered sharp international criticism and led to an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. China, Turkey and the African Union were among those condemning Israel’s decision, while the United States defended it, accusing critics of applying double standards.
Responding to the backlash at the time, Sa’ar said Somaliland’s existence was not a recent development. “Somaliland has functioned as a state for more than 34 years,” he said, adding that Israel alone would decide whom it recognises and with whom it maintains diplomatic relations.