Politics Israel's Foreign Minister visits Somaliland
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar is visiting the region following the controversial recognition of Somaliland as an independent state by Israel. He defended the decision on site as "morally correct".
06.01.2026, 17:08
SDA
In December, Israel was the first country in the world to recognize the Muslim-majority region in northern Somalia as an independent state. Somaliland has been virtually independent for more than three decades. Several regional powers condemned Israel's move.
According to Saar's office, no one will determine which countries Israel recognizes as states. Somaliland is a "functioning state" and "a stable democracy". The Israeli Foreign Minister also announced that embassies would be opening soon. Israel also reportedly invited the President of the Horn of Africa region, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, to visit Israel.
In Hargeisa, Saar also criticized the recognition of a Palestinian state by several countries: "Unlike "Palestine", Somaliland is not an apparent state," said Saar, without elaborating on this statement.
Sharp reaction in Mogadishu
The Somali Foreign Ministry in Mogadishu reacted sharply to the visit of the Israeli Foreign Minister. Somaliland is an "integral and inseparable part" of Somalia, it said in a statement. Saar's visit to Hargeisa was a serious violation of Somalia's sovereignty and political unity and constituted unacceptable interference in the country's internal affairs.
The breakaway territory in East Africa had previously hoped in vain for international recognition.
