Faith Nyasuguta
Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar, is in the breakaway region of Somaliland, in what marks the first official visit by a senior Israeli government representative since Israel became the first country in the world to recognise Somaliland’s independence. Sa’ar landed in Hargeisa, the capital, nearly two weeks after Israel’s unilateral recognition on December 26 – a move that has stirred major geopolitical controversy.
Sa’ar’s arrival was welcomed by senior Somaliland officials at the airport as he led a high-level delegation aimed at expanding diplomatic, political and economic ties between the two. In Hargeisa, he met with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi and other senior government figures to discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation across fields including agriculture, health, technology, and economic development.
In public comments made during the visit, Sa’ar emphasised that the recognition and ensuing diplomatic engagement were sovereign decisions by Israel. He framed the visit as a message of commitment to strengthening relations and said the ties were not directed against any third party. He also stressed his belief that Somaliland had operated in accordance with international law, contrasting its status with that of other contested statehood claims.
One of the key outcomes of the visit was the announcement of plans for opening an Israeli embassy in Somaliland and the appointment of ambassadors, steps that would formally institutionalise diplomatic relations. Additionally, President Abdullahi accepted an invitation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to make an official state visit to Israel.
Israel’s recognition of Somaliland – which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but had remained unrecognised internationally until this decision – is historic but deeply contentious. Somalia’s federal government and many African, Arab, and Muslim-majority states have denounced the recognition as a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Mogadishu labelled Sa’ar’s visit an “unauthorised incursion” into its claimed territory and urged international partners to uphold Somalia’s internationally recognised borders.
The African Union’s Peace and Security Council has also called for the revocation of Somaliland’s recognition by Israel, reinforcing the widespread regional pushback against the diplomatic shift. These reactions reflect broader fears that Israel’s action could set a precedent for secessionist movements globally and undermine long-standing norms around territorial integrity.
Despite the backlash, Somaliland has welcomed Israel’s recognition as a vital step toward international legitimacy and development, with its leadership actively pursuing further recognition from other countries. The region’s strategic location near the Red Sea shipping lanes and proximity to conflict zones such as Yemen’s Houthi-controlled areas has made it an increasingly significant actor in regional geopolitics, attracting interest from global powers.
Sa’ar’s visit – the first by a top Israeli diplomat to Somaliland – thus represents both a diplomatic breakthrough for the breakaway region and a flashpoint in broader international debates over sovereignty, recognition and regional security.
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