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Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar visited Somaliland, a visit that drew immediate condemnation from Somalia, just ten days after Israel formally recognized the self-declared republic as an independent and sovereign state.
Israel is the only country that officially recognizes Somaliland’s breakaway from Somalia. Somalia quickly denounced Israel’s recognition as an “illegal step” and called Sa’ar’s visit a “serious violation” of its sovereignty, underscoring the controversial nature of the diplomatic move.
During a visit to the capital Hargeisa, Mr Sal confirmed he had held discussions on “comprehensive relations” with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi. Israel’s foreign minister shared a photo of the meeting at the presidential palace on X and said: “We are determined to vigorously advance relations between Israel and Somaliland.”
Somaliland’s Ministry of Information announced earlier that Mr Sal was leading a high-level delegation. While specific details are scant, a senior Somaliland official said ahead of the presidential meeting that the Israeli foreign minister was expected to explore ways to strengthen bilateral ties between the two entities.
Sa’ar said Abdullahi had accepted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s invitation to pay an official visit to Israel.
Somalia’s foreign ministry said in a statement that Sal’s visit amounted to “unacceptable interference” in its internal affairs.
Abdullahi said last month that Somaliland would join the Abraham Accords, a deal brokered by Washington in 2020 that established relations with Israel between the Gulf states of the United Arab Emirates, a close partner of Somaliland, and Bahrain.
Somaliland, a former British protectorate, has long sought formal recognition as an independent state, although it has bilateral agreements with governments on investment and security coordination.
Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland comes after two years of tense relations with many of its closest partners over the issue. Gaza war and West Bank policies.
Netanyahu said Israel would seek cooperation in agriculture, health, technology and economic fields. After the visit, Saar said “local professionals” from Somaliland’s water sector will visit Israel in the coming months for training.
Somaliland is located in northwest Somalia, bordering Ethiopia and Djibouti, and across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen. Since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, the Iran-backed Houthis have been launching missiles and drones from Yemen towards Israel.
Omar Mahmoud, a Somalia analyst at the International Crisis Group think tank, said Israeli involvement may be driven by Somaliland’s strategic location, but security coordination would be possible even if Israel does not establish military facilities in Somaliland.
Sa’ar said on Tuesday that mutual recognition and establishment of diplomatic relations were not aimed at anyone.
Somaliland denies recognition of allowing Israel to establish military bases there or resettle Palestinians from Gaza. Israel contends that Palestinians emigrate from Gaza voluntarily, according to Israeli officials.