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HARGEISA, SOMALILAND — Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar concluded a historic visit to Hargeisa on Tuesday, becoming the first foreign minister to visit Somaliland since the Republic regained its independence in 1991. Sa’ar’s delegation was received at the Presidential Palace by President Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi “Irro,” following Israel’s formal recognition of the Republic of Somaliland on December 26—a decision that has reshaped diplomatic calculations across the Horn of Africa.
Security across the capital was visibly heightened throughout the visit, with access restricted around key government installations.
In his remarks, President Abdirahman Irro thanked the government and people of Israel for the courageous decision to recognize the Republic of Somaliland, describing it as having profound diplomatic, economic, and developmental impact on the Republic of Somaliland, the Horn of Africa region, and the world. The President emphasized that today marks a significant day for Somaliland, noting that Israel’s recognition strengthens Somaliland’s role in maintaining peace, stability, democracy, and freedom of expression.
Foreign Minister Sa’ar affirmed that Israel’s recognition is based on the right of self-determination of the Somaliland people and the interests of long-term security and stability in the Horn of Africa. He praised Somaliland’s functioning democracy, internal peace and security, and its role in regional stability. Sa’ar stated clearly that Israel recognized Somaliland on June 26, 1960, and again on December 26, 2025, and will continue to stand with the Republic of Somaliland in the future.
Topics discussed included the opening of embassies in Hargeisa and Jerusalem, preparations for Dr. Irro’s official visit to Israel, and cooperation in investment, trade, technology, energy, water, minerals, agriculture, and economic infrastructure development. Representatives from MASHAV—Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation—were part of Minister Sa’ar’s delegation.
Although not explicitly discussed during the visit, the security and defense dimensions of the partnership carry profound implications. Israel’s expertise in counterterrorism, intelligence gathering, and maritime security aligns directly with Somaliland’s strategic imperatives in a region facing piracy and extremist threats. Somaliland’s coastline offers critical positioning for Red Sea monitoring, while Israeli capabilities in surveillance, cybersecurity, and border control could significantly enhance Somaliland’s defensive posture. The potential for intelligence sharing and maritime coordination represents a strategic asset for regional stability.
Recognition That Broke the Mold
Israel’s recognition landed with unusual force, stunning regional capitals while igniting public celebrations across Somaliland. Streets in Hargeisa and Berbera filled with spontaneous rallies, as citizens marked what many view as the first irreversible breach in a three-decade wall of diplomatic denial.
While the announcement appeared sudden, it was not improvised. The agreement was finalized during a video call between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Irro, but multiple indicators suggest the groundwork was laid quietly over an extended period, beyond the scrutiny of regional and multilateral forums.
Israeli media outlets traveled to Somaliland in force following the announcement, documenting the public reaction and reporting from both the capital and the strategic port city of Berbera—coverage that further underscored the moment’s significance.
During their call, Netanyahu and Dr. Irro discussed a prospective presidential visit to Israel. No date has been confirmed.
Somaliland’s Legal Case, Long Settled
Somaliland’s claim to statehood is not novel, nor is it legally ambiguous. The Republic satisfies all four criteria outlined in the Montevideo Convention: a permanent population, a defined territory, an effective government, and the capacity to conduct foreign relations. South Africa has gone further, formally acknowledging that Somaliland meets these international law standards.
The obstacle to recognition has never been juridical. It has been political—rooted in the African Union’s fixation on inherited colonial borders and reinforced by the preferences of external actors invested in maintaining the fiction of Somali unity. Israel’s decision punctures that consensus by treating Somaliland not as an exception to be managed, but as a reality to be acknowledged.
Strategic Weight Beyond Symbolism
Israel’s recognition is not merely declaratory. Somaliland occupies a commanding position along the Gulf of Aden, directly facing Yemen and overlooking the Bab al-Mandeb Strait—one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, through which a significant share of global trade transits.
For Israel, engagement with Somaliland offers strategic depth in the Red Sea basin, with clear implications for maritime security and intelligence cooperation, particularly amid persistent Houthi threats. For Somaliland, the move confers long-sought validation of its governance record and strengthens its hand in courting further recognition.
Dr. Irro concluded the meeting by assuring Minister Sa’ar that Somaliland is a reliable partner located in a strategic position important for the future peace and security of the Horn of Africa and the world.
Diplomatic Shockwaves
The fallout was immediate. Relations with Djibouti deteriorated sharply in the days following the announcement. Both governments recalled diplomatic representatives, and Somaliland authorities suspended Air Djibouti flights effective Wednesday.
Elsewhere, reaction has taken the form of studied silence. Ethiopia—Somaliland’s principal trading partner and a pivotal regional power—has issued no public statement. Kenya and the United Arab Emirates have likewise refrained from comment, prompting speculation that internal consultations are underway, particularly in Addis Ababa, where the strategic implications of recognition are impossible to ignore.
Mogadishu, by contrast, moved swiftly to externalize its objections. Somalia’s foreign minister, Abdisalam Abdi Ali, traveled to Riyadh to meet Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. Several Saudi-linked social media accounts echoed Mogadishu’s position, though no formal Saudi government statement has followed.
Mogadishu’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning what it termed an “unauthorized incursion,” deploying language reminiscent of Beijing’s rhetoric on Taiwan, including references to Hargeisa as an “inalienable” part of Somalia. The statement, like those before it, offers no mechanism to reverse developments on the ground. Somalia, which has exercised no authority over Somaliland since 1991, continues to rely on diplomatic theater to mask that reality.
What Comes Next
Israel’s move has reopened a question long deferred by international actors: whether continued non-recognition of Somaliland remains defensible, or merely habitual. Somaliland grounds its sovereignty claim in the borders of the former British Somaliland Protectorate, which gained independence in 1960 before entering a failed union with Somalia.
Foreign Minister Sa’ar’s visit to Somaliland sends a clear signal that Israel and Somaliland are moving ahead with their historic bilateral ties.
