NAIROBI: Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar visited Somaliland on Tuesday on a trip that was denounced by Somalia, 10 days after Israel formally recognised the self-declared republic as an independent and sovereign state.

Israel is the only country that has formally recognised Somaliland’s move to break away from Somalia, which described Israel’s decision on recognition as an “unlawful step” and said Saar’s visit as a “serious violation” of its sovereignty.

In a statement on X, Saar said that he had held talks “on the full range of relations” with Somaliland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, in the capital Hargeisa.

“We are determined to vigorously advance relations between Israel and Somaliland,” Saar wrote on X, alongside images of him meeting the Somaliland leader at the presidential palace.

Somaliland’s information ministry earlier said on X that Saar was leading a high-level delegation. It gave no further details but a senior Somaliland official disclosed before the meeting with the president that the Israeli foreign minister was expected to discuss ways to enhance bilateral ties.

Saar said Abdullahi had accepted an invitation from Netanyahu to make an official visit to Israel.

Netanyahu has said Israel will pursue cooperation in agriculture, health, technology and the economy.

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2026