Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar arrived in Somaliland on Tuesday. This visit marked the first official trip by an Israeli leader since Israel formally recognised Somaliland as an independent country.

According to a Times of Israel report, senior Somaliland officials welcomed Sa’ar at the airport. The Somaliland Information Ministry confirmed his arrival.

Later in the day, Sa’ar was scheduled to meet Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi. However, the Israeli foreign ministry did not immediately confirm the visit when asked.

Israel Recognises Somaliland as Independent State

Last month, Israel became the first member of the United Nations to officially recognise the Republic of Somaliland as a sovereign nation. The move marked a major diplomatic breakthrough for Somaliland, which has sought global recognition for more than three decades.

Somalia and Global Reactions

Meanwhile, Israel’s decision sparked sharp reactions. Somalia strongly objected to the recognition and said Somaliland remains part of its territory.

Several Middle Eastern and African countries also criticised Israel’s move. In addition, the European Union issued a rebuke, raising concerns over regional stability.

Somaliland’s Long Quest for Recognition

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 after the central government in Mogadishu collapsed. Despite maintaining relative stability and self-rule, the region failed to gain international recognition until Israel’s announcement.

This recognition ended years of diplomatic isolation for the self-declared republic.

Strategic Importance of the Region

Importantly, Somaliland sits in the Horn of Africa, across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen. The area holds strategic value because the Iran-aligned Houthi movement controls large parts of Yemen.

As a result, Somaliland’s location has drawn growing international attention.

UN Official Warns on International Law

In a separate development, concerns were raised over international law and military interventions. “Accountability for human rights violations cannot be achieved by unilateral military intervention in violation of international law,” she said.

She noted that the UN human rights office had, for ten years, documented “the continued deterioration of the situation in Venezuela”.

“We fear that the current instability and further militarisation in the country resulting from the US intervention will only make the situation worse,” she added.