Somalia Slams Israel Over Unauthorized FM Visit to Somaliland as Diplomatic Crisis Deepens

Somalia has strongly condemned the unauthorized visit of Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to Somaliland, describing it as a “blatant violation of sovereignty” and warning that it will take all appropriate diplomatic and legal measures to safeguard its territorial integrity.

“This action […] represents an unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign Member State of the United Nations,” Somalia’s Foreign Ministry stated following reports of Saar’s visit to Hargeisa, the capital of the breakaway region of Somaliland.

The visit comes just days after Israel formally recognized Somaliland on December 27, a move that has drawn broad criticism from Somalia, other African nations, and the international community.

Key points from Somalia’s statement include:

• The government declared any engagement on Somali territory without its explicit consent as “illegal, null, and void.
• It called on Israel to immediately cease all actions undermining Somalia’s unity and to respect international law.
• Somalia urged the UN, AU, Arab League, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and all international partners to reaffirm their support for Somalia’s sovereignty and recognized borders.
• The government reserved the right to take all appropriate diplomatic and legal measures to safeguard its territorial integrity.

The statement reinforces Mogadishu’s firm stance against Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, a move that has placed Somalia and Israel on a collision course and threatens to further destabilize the Horn of Africa.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 following a brutal civil war, but no country had formally recognized it as an independent state—until Israel’s recent decision.

For Somalia, Israel’s recognition of Somaliland is not just a diplomatic affront; it is an existential threat. Mogadishu has long maintained that Somaliland is an integral part of Somalia and that any country recognizing its independence is violating Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s visit to Hargeisa is seen by Mogadishu as a deliberate provocation, signaling Israel’s intention to deepen ties with Somaliland despite international opposition.

During the visit, Saar reportedly held meetings with Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi and discussed security cooperation, trade, and diplomatic relations. Israel has framed its relationship with Somaliland as part of a broader strategy to expand its presence in Africa and the Red Sea region.

For Somaliland, Israel’s recognition represents a major diplomatic breakthrough after decades of international isolation. Hargeisa has long sought recognition from the international community, arguing that it has maintained stability, democratic governance, and security in contrast to the chaos and instability in southern Somalia.

But for Somalia and much of the international community, Israel’s decision is a dangerous precedent that could encourage other separatist movements across Africa and undermine the principles of territorial integrity enshrined in the African Union’s Constitutive Act.

Somalia’s Foreign Ministry statement emphasized that any engagement on Somali territory without Mogadishu’s consent is “illegal, null, and void” and called on Israel to immediately cease all actions that undermine Somalia’s unity.

The government also urged the United Nations, African Union, Arab League, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and all international partners to reaffirm their support for Somalia’s sovereignty and recognized borders.

“We call on the international community to stand firmly with Somalia in defense of the principles of international law and the inviolability of borders,” the ministry said.

Somalia has also warned that it reserves the right to take all appropriate diplomatic and legal measures to protect its territorial integrity, raising the possibility of severing any remaining informal ties with Israel and pursuing legal action at international forums.

The crisis has placed regional and international actors in a difficult position. The African Union, which has consistently opposed the recognition of Somaliland, has yet to issue a formal statement on Israel’s decision. The Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation have expressed support for Somalia’s position, but it remains unclear what concrete steps they will take.

The United States and the European Union, which maintain close ties with both Somalia and Israel, have remained largely silent, reflecting the diplomatic complexity of the situation.

For Israel, the recognition of Somaliland is part of a broader strategy to expand its influence in Africa and secure access to strategic maritime routes, particularly in the Red Sea.

Somaliland’s location on the Gulf of Aden makes it a valuable partner for countries seeking to counter Iranian and militant influence in the region.

But the move has alienated Somalia, a predominantly Muslim country with close ties to Arab and Islamic nations, and has drawn criticism from African states wary of setting a precedent that could embolden separatist movements elsewhere on the continent.

As tensions escalate, the question facing the international community is clear: Will Israel’s recognition of Somaliland be an isolated decision, or will it mark the beginning of a new wave of diplomatic recognition that could redraw the map of the Horn of Africa?

For Somalia, the answer to that question could determine the future of its territorial integrity and its place in the international community.