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Israel alone decides whom it recognizes and with whom it maintains diplomatic relations.
By United with Israel Staff
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar visited Hargeisa on Tuesday, holding a series of meetings and issuing joint statements that marked a significant deepening of ties between Israel and Somaliland, following Israel’s recent recognition of the territory as an independent state.
At the conclusion of the talks, Sa’ar and Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi announced plans to open embassies and appoint ambassadors in the near future, formally establishing diplomatic relations.
Sa’ar said the sides also agreed to deepen cooperation across key areas, including security, economics, water, agriculture, and development.
“These are historic days that we hope will mark the beginning of a deep friendship between our peoples for many years to come,” Sa’ar said, adding that Somaliland is “not a virtual state” but a functioning democracy that has demonstrated stability for more than three decades.
He stressed that Israel alone decides whom it recognizes and with whom it maintains diplomatic relations.
The president of Somaliland welcomed the visit, describing it as a “significant milestone” in the evolving relationship with Israel, and said he expects to visit Israel soon as the two countries move toward opening embassies.
The visit also drew sharp regional reactions. Somalia’s Foreign Ministry issued what it called a “strong condemnation” of Sa’ar’s arrival in Hargeisa, claiming the visit constituted an unauthorized entry into what Mogadishu defines as its sovereign territory.
Despite the criticism, Israeli officials portrayed the visit as a clear signal of intent to translate recognition into concrete diplomatic and strategic cooperation. The move underscores Israel’s growing engagement in the Horn of Africa, a region of increasing geopolitical importance along key Red Sea and maritime routes.
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