The Media Line: FM Sa’ar Arrives in Somaliland for First Official Visit Since Recognition  

FM Sa’ar Arrives in Somaliland for First Official Visit Since Recognition  

By The Media Line Staff  

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar arrived in Somaliland on Tuesday, marking the first visit by a senior Israeli official since Jerusalem formally recognized the territory, according to officials and journalists in Somaliland.  

The visit comes weeks after Israel announced its recognition of Somaliland, a self-governing region in the Horn of Africa that declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not been recognized internationally. Israel remains the only country to do so.  

Sa’ar’s agenda is expected to include meetings with Somaliland’s president and senior government figures, as well as a visit to the port city of Berbera, a key maritime hub along the Red Sea corridor near Yemen.  

Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland late last year drew swift criticism abroad. Twenty-one Muslim-majority countries and the European Union condemned the move, warning it could destabilize an already fragile region and carry significant security consequences.  

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the decision last week, describing it as consistent with the framework of the Abraham Accords. He said Israel and Somaliland would pursue cooperation in areas including agriculture, economic development and social programs. His remarks came days before Somalia was set to take over the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council.  

Somalia has strongly opposed the move, arguing that Israeli recognition undermines its territorial integrity. Opponents of the new relationship say it risks inflaming regional tensions tied to Somaliland’s long-disputed status.  

Israeli officials have privately acknowledged that the decision carries strategic weight beyond diplomacy. At a closed session of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, an Israeli intelligence representative warned lawmakers that the recognition of Somaliland involves complex security considerations, according to a report by i24NEWS.  

Separately, Foreign Ministry Director-General Eden Bar Tal framed the move as part of Israel’s evolving regional posture, saying the country is increasingly building partnerships beyond its traditional diplomatic sphere. He said Israel is being viewed by neighboring states as a durable and influential actor in the region.