Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, has paid an official visit to Somaliland, according to two sources familiar with the trip, marking the first high-level Israeli visit since Israel recognised the territory as an independent state late last month.
A senior Somaliland government official said Saar met with President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi in the capital, Hargeisa, where discussions focused on strengthening diplomatic, economic and security cooperation. A second source independently confirmed the Israeli minister’s presence in the region. Israel’s foreign ministry did not immediately comment on the visit.
The trip comes roughly 10 days after Israel formally acknowledged Somaliland’s sovereignty on December 27, a significant diplomatic step that drew strong objections from Somalia’s federal government, which considers Somaliland an integral part of its territory. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not previously received formal recognition from any United Nations member state.
Growing diplomatic engagement
Following the recognition, President Abdullahi said Somaliland intended to join the Abraham Accords — the U.S.-brokered framework launched in 2020 that led to the normalisation of relations between Israel and several Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The UAE is a key economic and political partner of Somaliland.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel is seeking cooperation with Somaliland in areas such as agriculture, healthcare, technology and trade, and has invited Somaliland’s president to visit Israel.
Strategic and regional context
Somaliland occupies a strategic position along the Gulf of Aden, one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors, and borders Ethiopia and Djibouti. The region lies directly across the gulf from Yemen, where Iran-aligned Houthi forces have launched missile and drone attacks targeting Israel since October 2023, amid the ongoing Gaza war.
Despite the security sensitivities, Somaliland authorities have rejected claims that the recognition agreement would allow Israel to establish military bases on its territory or involve the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza. Israeli officials have previously spoken about what they describe as voluntary migration options for Palestinians, a proposal that has been widely criticised internationally.
Long-standing quest for recognition
Formerly a British protectorate, Somaliland has maintained its own government, currency and security forces for more than three decades. While it has signed cooperation agreements with various foreign governments and companies — particularly in ports, trade and security — it has continued to press for full international recognition.
Israel’s move comes at a time when its relations with several traditional allies have been under strain due to the war in Gaza and settlement policies in the occupied West Bank, adding further geopolitical weight to its decision to formalise ties with Somaliland.
Source: Africa Publicity
