Israeli FM makes historic visit to Somaliland

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar becomes the first senior Israeli official to visit the breakaway republic following Israel’s recognition of Somaliland.

By World Israel News Staff

Israel’s foreign minister arrived in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, on Tuesday, leading the first high-level delegation ever to visit the breakaway republic.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar (New Hope) landed in Hargeisa in the morning and is scheduled to meet with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi in the presidential palace, a Somaliland diplomatic source told i24NEWS.

Tuesday’s meeting between Sa’ar and President Abdullahi is intended to promote cooperation between Israel and Somaliland following Jerusalem’s recognition of Hargeisa last month, the official said.

Sa’ar’s visit marks the first official diplomatic visit by an Israeli government official to Somaliland since Jerusalem recognized the republic’s independence in late December.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry declined to comment on reports of the visit.

According to local media outlets, Somaliland cabinet ministers and other government officials greeted Sa’ar upon his arrival at Egal International Airport.

Home to more than six million people in the Horn of Africa, the majority-Sunni Muslim republic declared independence from Somalia in 1991, 31 years after it formed a voluntary union with Somalia.

In December, Israel became the first United Nations member state to recognize the split, in a move that drew sharp criticism from across the Arab and Muslim world.

On Monday, Israeli Ambassador to France Joshua L. Zarka met with Somaliland’s envoy to Paris, Abdourahman Yassin. The meeting was held at the Israeli embassy in Paris, and focused on talks regarding bilateral relations and ways to enhance regional stability in the Horn of Africa.

“A warm and friendly meeting with Ambassador Abdourahman Yassin, representative of the Republic of Somaliland in Paris, to discuss peace, the development of diplomatic relations between our countries, and regional stability. Mr. Ambassador, it was an honor and a pleasure,” Zarka wrote on X following the meeting.