Gideon Saar, Israel’s foreign minister, has held talks in Somaliland on his first visit to the breakaway region, days after Israel became the only country to formally recognise it as an independent state. The visit has drawn sharp condemnation from Somalia, which says the move violates its sovereignty.
Read also: Israel recognises Somaliland, sparking sharp backlash from Somalia
Saar met Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, the Somaliland president, in Hargeisa and said Israel was determined to advance relations with the region with momentum. Abdullahi described the visit as a big day for Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia more than 30 years ago but has never been internationally recognised until now.
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Somalia reacted angrily, calling the visit unacceptable interference in its internal affairs. The foreign ministry said any official engagement with Somaliland without Mogadishu consent was illegal and void.
It urged the United Nations and the African Union to defend Somalia’s territorial integrity.
Read also: Nigeria backs AU stabilization mission in Somalia, urges sustainable global funding.
Israel rejected the criticism. Writing on X, Saar said his talks with Abdullahi covered the entirety of relations between the two sides. Addressing the backlash, he said Israel’s decision to recognise Somaliland was not aimed at any country. “Only Israel will determine for itself who it recognises,” Saar said.
Somalia maintains that Somaliland remains part of its territory and has described Israel’s recognition as an unlawful step. Israel’s recognition last month marked a major diplomatic shift in the Horn of Africa and has added a new layer of tension to an already fragile regional landscape.
