The Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gideon Saar, visited on Tuesday Somaliland, a visit that sparked a strong reaction from the SomaliaThis trip comes about ten days after Israel officially recognized this self-proclaimed territory as an independent and sovereign state, a decision rejected by Mogadishu.
In a message posted on the X network, Gideon Saar indicated that he had met with the president of Somaliland. Abdirahman Mohammed AbdullahIn the capital, Hargeisa, he stated that the discussions had covered "the full range of bilateral relations." He asserted that Israel was determined to rapidly strengthen its ties with Somaliland, illustrating his point with images of the meeting at the presidential palace.
Somalia strongly condemned the visit, calling it an "unacceptable interference" and a "serious violation" of its sovereignty. Somali authorities still consider Somaliland an integral part of their territory, despite the separation declared by Hargeisa in 1991 and the lack of widespread international recognition.
Israel is currently the only country to have officially recognized Somaliland's independence. According to local authorities, this recognition could have positive repercussions for the territory's economy and development. The Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the decision, which it believes will strengthen investment and international cooperation.
During the visit, Gideon Saar also announced that the president of Somaliland had accepted an invitation from the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for an official visit to Israel. The Israeli foreign minister specified that the two sides intended to develop their cooperation in areas such as agriculture, water, health and technology.
This diplomatic initiative comes amid a tense regional context, marked by the war in Gaza and sometimes strained relations between Israel and some of its traditional partners. Somaliland, located at the entrance to the Gulf of Aden opposite Yemen, occupies a strategic position in a key area for maritime and regional security, a factor that, according to several analysts, explains Israel's growing interest in this territory.
