The first high-level diplomatic visit by Israel’s foreign minister to Somaliland since it recognized the breakaway region’s independence over a week and a half ago sparked condemnation and concerns that Palestinians there may be forced to be expelled by Israel.
Gideon Saar descended on Hargeisa on Tuesday, according to a statement from the presidency of Somaliland, and was met there by government officials.
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According to online footage that was circulated between him and President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, they were scheduled to meet.
Saar’s visit was deemed an “unauthorized incursion” by Somalia’s foreign ministry. Any official presence or activity in Somali territory without Mogadishu’s permission was “illegal, null, and void,” according to the ministry.
The African Union holding an urgent ministerial session on Tuesday to address the situation, which is occurring as the region’s opposition to Israel’s recognition grows.
Following requests from member states, the session was specifically convened for the purpose of the AU Peace and Security Council’s original January agenda.
Badr Abdelaty, Egypt’s foreign minister, claimed Israel’s recognition “set a dangerous precedent” by stating that it was “a flagrant violation” of Somalia’s sovereignty.
The Saar visit, according to Somaliland diplomat Ismail Shirwac, marks “a defining moment in the deepening relations between two democratic nations operating in a strategically crucial region.”
He claimed that the diplomatic partnership was “unrecoverable and significant.”
On December 26, Israel formally recognized Somaliland as a separate state, marking its second significant development since its 2020 ties with Taiwan.
In a message sent on New Year’s Eve, the president of Somaliland stated that he anticipated more nations to follow.
Ted Cruz, a staunch supporter of Somaliland and a staunch supporter of Israel, has urged President Donald Trump to acknowledge it, citing a “alignment with America’s security interests” as a strategy.
Trump, however, sounded uninterested when asked about the matter in a recent interview with the New York Post, only stating that it was being looked into.
self-proclaimed independence
In 1991, Somaliland unilaterally split from Somalia as the nation resurrected following a civil war.
Somaliland had stabilized by the late 1990s, establishing its own constitution, parliament, and currency, despite the chaos that first emerged in the first few years of the conflict.
Somalia quickly called for Israel’s “gravest attack” on its sovereignty, and it has since gathered diplomatic support from all over the world.
Tens of thousands of Somalis took to the streets in late December to demand national unity, despite the criticism of more than 50 nations against Israel’s decision.
In exchange for recognition, Somaliland allegedly accepted three Israeli demands, including resettling Palestinians from Gaza, effectively facilitating ethnic cleansing, building an Israeli military base, and adhering to Trump’s Abraham Accords, which a few nations have signed, which has normalized relations with Israel.
Somaliland insists that its engagement with Israel is “purely diplomatic” and carried out “in full respect of international law” and has denied agreeing to relocate Palestinians or provide for military installations.
However, Bashir Goth, the representative of Somaliland to the United States, claimed that “as two independent nations that recognize one another and have diplomatic relations, nothing can prevent us from establishing a security cooperation or pact.”
Saar’s visit comes at a time when the Red Sea region is experiencing growing tensions.
Both countries reiterated their commitment to preserving Somalia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty during Monday’s talks with Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister in Cairo.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed spoke in separate phone calls days earlier, stating that Turkiye “supports the territorial integrity and unity” of both Somalia and Yemen.
Saudi Arabia and Turkiye are increasingly allies against the United Arab Emirates’ influence in the Red Sea, including in Yemen, where Saudi forces recently clashed with UAE forces, leading to the withdrawal of UAE troops.
Any Israeli presence in Somaliland would be seen as a “military target,” according to the leader of Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
Source: Aljazeera
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