Lina Altawell
06 January 2026•Update: 06 January 2026
- Visit represents 'unacceptable interference' in internal affairs of a sovereign UN member, Somalia says
Istanbul
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar visited Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland on Tuesday, almost two weeks after Tel Aviv recognized the region amid international outrage.
“The mutual recognition and establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries are not directed against anyone,” Saar said on US social media company X.
He said the region’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi, has accepted an invitation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Israel and open an embassy there.
An Israeli Foreign Ministry statement said the visit came upon an invitation from Abdilahi.
According to the statement, Abdilahi described Saar’s visit as “a significant milestone” that reflects a shared commitment to developing a “productive, forward-looking and strategic partnership.”
He said he would visit Israel soon to open an embassy in the country.
A Somaliland diplomatic source earlier told Israeli channel i24NEWS that Saar’s visit “aims to advance meaningful political and strategic cooperation between Israel and Somaliland.”
In a joint news conference with Saar, Abdilahi said they were committed to building a strategic relationship with Israel based on cooperation in political, security, economic, and development areas.
He said Somaliland was ready and politically committed to opening an embassy in Israel, supporting a “permanent” Israeli diplomatic presence.
Saar said he held meetings with Abdilahi along with his team, and held dialogue over several months, noting that the two sides agreed on the mutual appointment of ambassadors and the opening of embassies.
He said the Israeli Foreign Ministry was working to develop ties with Somaliland across sectors, including economy, agriculture, water, medicine, education, and defense, with exchanges of experts and training.
Calling the region “friendly to Israel,” Saar welcomed its intention to join the Abraham Accords.
The Somali Foreign Ministry condemned his “unauthorized incursion” into Somaliland in a statement, calling on Tel Aviv to “immediately cease” all actions undermining Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
It said Saar’s visit represents an "unacceptable interference" in the internal affairs of a sovereign UN member.
Mogadishu said any official presence, contact, or engagement on its territory without the federal government’s explicit consent is illegal, null, and carries no legal effect.
On Dec. 26, Israel announced its official recognition of Somaliland as an independent, sovereign state, making Tel Aviv the only country in the world to recognize the breakaway region.
The Israeli move sparked widespread regional rejection, particularly from the Arab countries, which described it as illegal and a threat to international peace and security.
Somalia also reaffirmed its firm and non-negotiable commitment to its sovereignty, national unity, and territorial integrity, declaring its categorical rejection of the Israeli move.
Somaliland, which has lacked official recognition since declaring independence from Somalia in 1991, operates as a de facto independent administrative, political, and security entity, with the central government unable to assert control over the region, and its leadership unable to secure international recognition of independence.
