Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar visited Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, on Tuesday, marking the first official trip by an Israeli foreign minister to the region. The visit occurred a month after Israel recognized Somaliland as an independent country. During his time in Hargeisa, Foreign Minister Saar met with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi.
Visit Details and Purpose
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s arrival in Hargeisa on Tuesday was confirmed by the Somaliland government via social media. Government sources indicated that the meeting with President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi took place during the visit. A diplomatic source in Somaliland stated that the visit aimed to advance political and strategic partnerships between the two entities. The Israeli foreign ministry has not issued a public statement regarding Saar's trip.
President Abdullahi indicated that Somaliland intends to join the Abraham Accords, a series of normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab states initiated in 2020. Israel has committed to cooperating with Somaliland across various sectors, including agriculture, health, technology, and the economy.
Background of Recognition
Israel's recognition of Somaliland last month made it the first nation to formally acknowledge Somaliland as an independent country. Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991, following the overthrow of Somali military dictator Siad Barre. Despite its declaration, Somaliland remains largely unrecognized globally, and Somalia regards it as an integral part of its territory.
Somaliland President Abdullahi described Israel's decision to recognize the region as "a historic moment." Conversely, Somalia rejected the development, characterizing it as an "infringement on its sovereignty" and an "attack on its sovereignty."
Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu cited Somaliland's "right to self-determination" when announcing the recognition. Foreign Minister Saar previously stated that Somaliland has existed as a functioning state for over 34 years and affirmed Israel's right to determine its diplomatic relations. He also stated, "Somaliland was not created this past weekend. It has existed as a functioning state for more than 34 years. The attacks on Israel's recognition of Somaliland are hypocritical. Only Israel will decide who to recognize and with whom to maintain diplomatic relations."
International Reactions and Strategic Considerations
Israel's recognition of Somaliland prompted an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. International reactions varied, with criticism from China, Turkey, and the African Union. The European Union emphasized respect for Somalia's sovereignty. The United States defended Israel's stance, stating that its critics were employing double standards.
Analysts from the Institute for National Security Studies, an Israeli think tank, published a paper last month suggesting strategic motivations behind Israel's decision. The analysis indicated that "Israel requires allies in the Red Sea region for many strategic reasons, among them the possibility of a future campaign against the Houthis," referring to Yemen's Iran-backed rebel group.