Somalia responded angrily to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar’s visit to Somaliland on Tuesday, condemning it as an “unauthorized incursion” into what Somalia believes is its sovereign territory.
The East African nation took issue with Sa’ar’s presence in Hargeisa, the de facto capital of Somaliland.
“This action constitutes a serious violation of Somalia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political unity, and represents an unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign Member State of the United Nations,” Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a strongly worded statement.
“Hargeisa forms an inalienable part of the internationally recognized territory of Somalia,” the ministry wrote. “Any official presence, contact, or engagement undertaken within Somali territory without the explicit consent and authorization of the Federal Government of Somalia is illegal, null, and void, and carries no legal validity or effect.”
The high-profile visit came after Israel recognized Somaliland’s sovereignty late last month. The breakaway state declared its independence from Somalia in 1991, but it largely remains unrecognized at the international level. Israel was the first member of the U.N. to fully establish diplomatic relations with the territory.
Sa’ar said it was a “great honor” to mark the first state visit to Somaliland after Israel’s recognition of the region.
“The mutual recognition and establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries are not directed against anyone. Our shared objective is to promote the mutual benefit of both nations and countries,” he wrote on X. “In Hargeisa, I made it clear: Only Israel will decide whom it recognizes and with whom it maintains diplomatic relations.”
The foreign minister confirmed that the president of Somaliland accepted an invitation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit the Jewish state soon.
Sa’ar’s historic state visit coincided with a special meeting called by the African Union Peace and Security Council to condemn the newfound relationship between Israel and Somaliland. Somalia is one of the 55 members of the African Union.
While respecting Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, the United States has not followed suit. However, at least five nations are reportedly expected to join Israel in opening up their doors to Somaliland.
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Kenya, Morocco, Ethiopia, India, and the United Arab Emirates may recognize the independent territory sometime on Tuesday as reports indicate delegations from those countries are present in Hargeisa.
Somalia remains opposed to the idea of Somaliland’s sovereignty, saying it “reserves the right to take all appropriate diplomatic and legal measures, in accordance with international law, to safeguard its sovereignty, national unity, and territorial integrity.”