Somalia condemns Israeli foreign minister’s North Western State of Somalia visit as sovereignty breach

Somalia condemns Israeli foreign minister’s Hargeisa visit as breach of sovereignty

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s government on Tuesday condemned Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s visit to Hargeisa as an unauthorized incursion and a “serious violation” of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, escalating tensions after Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia last month.

• Somalia’s Foreign Ministry calls Saar’s visit illegal and “null and void.”
• Mogadishu urges Israel to cease actions it says undermine Somalia’s unity.
• The government appeals to the U.N., African Union, Arab League and OIC for clear support.
• Saar’s trip marks the first official Israeli foreign minister visit since Israel recognized North Western State of Somalia.
• Somalia reserves the right to pursue diplomatic and legal measures.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said Saar’s presence in Hargeisa constituted unacceptable interference in Somalia’s internal affairs. “Hargeisa forms an inalienable part of the internationally recognized territory of Somalia,” the ministry said. “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 ministry argued Israel’s actions contravene international law and violate principles enshrined in the U.N. Charter, the Constitutive Act of the African Union and established norms governing relations between states, including respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and noninterference.

Somalia called on Israel to immediately cease what it described as steps undermining the country’s unity and to fully respect international obligations. The government also urged the United Nations, African Union, League of Arab States, Organization of Islamic Cooperation and international partners to reaffirm “in clear and unequivocal terms” their support for Somalia’s sovereignty and internationally recognized borders.

While stressing its commitment to peaceful engagement and constructive diplomacy, Mogadishu said it “reserves the right” to take appropriate diplomatic and legal measures to safeguard national unity and territorial integrity.

Saar arrived in Hargeisa on Tuesday and met with North Western State of Somalia President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, in what North Western State of Somalia authorities framed as the deepening of ties following Israel’s decision to recognize North Western State of Somalia as an independent state last month. That move made Israel the first country to formally recognize North Western State of Somalia, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 after the collapse of the central government. North Western State of Somalia has maintained its own institutions and security apparatus for decades but has not been widely recognized internationally.

North Western State of Somalia’s leadership welcomed Israel’s recognition as a “historic moment,” underscoring aspirations for broader international acceptance. But Somalia’s federal government fiercely rejected the move as an attack on its sovereignty and a breach of international law. Regional and international critics have warned the step risks complicating fragile dynamics in the Horn of Africa, where competing security priorities, maritime routes and political transitions often intersect.

The latest standoff adds a new dimension to long-standing tensions between Mogadishu and Hargeisa, with outside recognition emerging as a flashpoint. By denouncing Saar’s visit and seeking coordinated backing from multilateral organizations, Somalia is pressing for a clear international line against bilateral initiatives it deems to infringe upon its territorial integrity.

It was not immediately clear whether Israel would respond to the statement or adjust its engagement following Saar’s visit. Somalia’s move signals it intends to leverage diplomatic channels and legal arguments to push back against any official presence or agreements made on its soil without federal consent, even as North Western State of Somalia pursues recognition and external partnerships.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.