Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, has arrived in Somaliland in the first high-level visit by an Israeli official since Israel formally recognised the self-declared republic, a move that has intensified diplomatic tensions in the Horn of Africa.
According to a statement from the Somaliland presidency, Saar landed in the capital, Hargeisa, on Tuesday and was received by senior government officials before holding meetings with top leaders of the breakaway region. The visit comes just weeks after Israel announced its decision to officially recognise Somaliland, making it the first country to do so since the territory declared unilateral independence from Somalia in 1991.
Somaliland has long sought international recognition and operates with its own government structures, including a currency, passport and security forces. It also occupies a strategic position along the Gulf of Aden, near one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes linking the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
Israel’s recognition, however, has drawn sharp criticism from African states and Muslim-majority countries, many of which view the move as a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty. The European Union has also reiterated its position that Somalia’s territorial integrity should be respected.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud strongly condemned Israel’s decision, describing it as a threat to regional stability. In an interview with Al Jazeera, he claimed Somaliland had agreed to several conditions in exchange for recognition, including the resettlement of Palestinians, the establishment of an Israeli military base on the Gulf of Aden, and joining the Abraham Accords to normalise relations with Israel.
Somaliland’s foreign ministry rejected the allegations regarding the resettlement of Palestinians and the establishment of a military base, dismissing them as unfounded. Officials in Hargeisa have maintained that their engagement with Israel is driven by mutual diplomatic and economic interests rather than secret agreements.
Despite lacking formal international recognition, Somaliland has enjoyed relative stability compared to the rest of Somalia, which continues to face security challenges from Al-Shabaab militants who regularly carry out attacks, particularly in the capital Mogadishu.
Regional analysts say Israel’s outreach to Somaliland could enhance its strategic access to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, potentially strengthening its ability to counter hostile forces in the region, including Houthi rebels in Yemen. Somaliland’s location along a critical global maritime corridor has increasingly attracted interest from foreign powers seeking security and commercial partnerships.
The visit underscores shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Horn of Africa, as Somaliland continues to push for wider recognition while Israel’s decision reshapes diplomatic alignments and fuels debate over sovereignty, security and regional stability.
