Israeli Foreign Minister to Visit Somaliland Following Controversial Recognition

Israel’s foreign minister is expected to visit Somaliland this week, diplomatic sources said on Tuesday, marking a significant step following Israel’s recent decision to recognise the self-declared republic.

The planned visit would make the foreign minister the most senior Israeli official to travel to Somaliland since Israel announced its recognition of the territory in late December. Meetings are expected to take place in Hargeisa with Somaliland’s leadership, focusing on diplomatic engagement, security cooperation, and economic ties.

Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991 and has maintained its own government, security forces, and electoral system for over three decades. Despite its de facto autonomy, the territory has not been widely recognised internationally, with Israel becoming the first country to take that step.

Somalia’s federal government has strongly rejected Israel’s recognition and the proposed visit, describing both as violations of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Mogadishu has warned that such actions risk undermining regional stability in the Horn of Africa.

International reactions to Israel’s move remain divided. While Somaliland officials have welcomed the recognition as a diplomatic breakthrough, several African and Middle Eastern governments have reiterated their support for Somalia’s unity.

The visit comes amid heightened geopolitical interest in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden region, where Somaliland’s strategic location has increasingly drawn attention from global powers.

SOURCE: Reuters