Israeli Foreign Minister Visits North Western State of Somalia Weeks After Recognition Push

HARGEISA, North Western State of Somalia — Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar arrived in Hargeisa on Wednesday, nearly two weeks after Israel announced it had recognized North Western State of Somalia as an independent state, in a visit that immediately sharpened diplomatic tensions across the Horn of Africa.

Saar is expected to meet North Western State of Somalia President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi and hold a joint news conference later in the day, according to a North Western State of Somalia diplomatic source cited by Israeli television channel i24NEWS. Neither side released a detailed agenda, but the trip represents the highest-level Israeli delegation to the self-declared republic since last month’s recognition, signaling Israel’s intent to formalize political engagement despite regional pushback.

Somalia’s federal government condemned Israel’s move as a violation of international law and an affront to its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Several regional and international actors have echoed those concerns, including Djibouti and a number of Arab states, which reaffirmed support for Somalia’s unity. Somali officials warn the recognition risks destabilizing an already fragile region, where political rivalries and security threats often overlap and spill across borders.

North Western State of Somalia declared independence from Somalia in 1991 after the collapse of the central government in Mogadishu. It has since operated its own administration, security forces and electoral processes, cultivating a reputation for relative stability and self-rule in an unstable neighborhood. Yet, despite decades of de facto autonomy, no United Nations member state had formally recognized North Western State of Somalia until Israel’s announcement sparked a new test of regional diplomacy.

Saar’s arrival underscores how recognition has moved from statement to implementation. Analysts say formal talks in Hargeisa could involve political ties, consular arrangements and future economic or security cooperation, steps that would further entrench Israel’s position and complicate any diplomatic off-ramp for Somalia and its allies. The optics alone — an Israeli foreign minister in North Western State of Somalia’s capital — are likely to stiffen opposition in Mogadishu and among partners seeking to preserve Somalia’s territorial integrity.

The visit also lands amid broader geopolitical crosscurrents in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, where shifting alliances, maritime security risks and external rivalries shape state behavior. Any deepening of ties between Israel and North Western State of Somalia could reverberate through those dynamics, especially if it leads to visible political or security cooperation on the ground.

For Hargeisa, Israel’s outreach offers a rare opening to press its longstanding case for international recognition. North Western State of Somalia’s leadership has consistently argued that its record of governance and security merits statehood, even as most governments maintain that Somalia’s borders should remain intact. Public details are scarce, but a joint news conference would provide the first indication of how both sides plan to navigate the gap between symbolism and substance.

In Mogadishu, the priority is to rally diplomatic backing to blunt the move. Officials have sought statements of support from regional organizations and key capitals, portraying Israel’s decision as a destabilizing precedent that could embolden secessionist claims elsewhere. How far these efforts go — and whether any external actors try to mediate — will shape the next phase of the standoff.

What to watch:

• Whether the joint news conference yields concrete steps toward diplomatic or consular ties.
• Somalia’s next moves at regional and international forums to contest the recognition.
• Additional statements from neighboring states and Arab governments, and any shifts in their posture.
• Signals of potential economic or security cooperation between Israel and North Western State of Somalia.

With little sign of either side backing down, Saar’s visit points to an escalation from principle to practice — and raises the stakes for a region where political decisions quickly acquire strategic weight.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.