By Nuh Mohamed - Reporter
Somalia, 6 January 2026 Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi ‘Irro’ met Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar in Hargeisa on Tuesday following Israel’s recent recognition of the breakaway state.
A statement from the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson said discussions focused on political, economic and security cooperation. The meeting comes days after Israel formally recognised Somaliland’s independence on Dec. 26, last year.
The presidency said Irro welcomed the decision, describing it as a significant diplomatic step with potential implications for investment, trade, technology, energy, water, agriculture and infrastructure. He said Somaliland was ready to pursue broad cooperation with Israel based on shared strategic interests.
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Sa’ar said Israel was committed to developing close relations with Somaliland across multiple sectors, the statement said. He described Israel’s recognition as grounded in Somaliland’s claim to self-determination and its role in promoting stability in the Horn of Africa.
The Israeli foreign minister also praised Somaliland’s internal security and democratic governance, and said Israel would work to raise international awareness of Somaliland’s political status, according to the presidency.
The visit marked the first by a foreign minister to Somaliland in more than three decades, the statement said, calling it a milestone in relations between the two sides. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but is not internationally recognised.
