MOGADISHU, Somalia — Israel’s foreign minister arrived in Somaliland on Tuesday, the first visit by an Israeli senior official since that country formally recognized the breakaway Somali territory as a sovereign state.
Israel’s decision has been criticized or rejected by the African Union and others. Somalia itself in a statement on Tuesday said it “condemns in the strongest terms the unauthorized incursion” by Gideon Saar, describing his visit to Somaliland as “an unacceptable interference in the internal affairs” of Somalia.
Video footage shared on social media purported to show fighter jets flying over Hargeisa, the Somaliland capital, during Saar’s visit, but it was not immediately clear which country the aircraft belonged to.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 during a descent into conflict that continues to leave the east African country fragile. Despite having its own government and currency, Somaliland had never before been recognized by any nation.
Somaliland’s Ministry of Information had said in a post on X that Saar and his delegation were received by senior members of the Somaliland Cabinet when they landed at the airport in Hargeisa. The ministry described the visit as a milestone in bilateral relations.
Somalia’s federal government insists Somaliland remains an integral part of Somali territory and warns that recognition undermines Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Saar is expected to meet with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, also known as Irro, later on Tuesday at the presidential palace.
Israel’s announcement on Dec. 26 that it had recognized Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state quickly drew condemnation from many countries.
More than 20 mostly Middle Eastern or African countries and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation rejected Israel’s move.
U.S. and Israeli officials told The Associated Press last year that Israel had approached Somaliland about taking in Palestinians from Gaza as part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan at the time to resettle the territory’s population.
The U.S. has since abandoned that plan, and the State Department says it continues to recognize the territorial integrity of Somalia, “which includes the territory of Somaliland.”
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