From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
FM Sa’ar in Somaliland: ‘Unlike “Palestine,” Somaliland is not a virtual state’
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar’s office confirms his visit to Somaliland’s capital Hargeisa to meet with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi.
He also meets Somaliland’s Foreign Minister Abdirahman Dahir Adam, Presidential Affairs Minister Hader Hussein Abdi, and Chief of Staff Nimsan Yusuf Osman, according to the Foreign Ministry.
“Unlike ‘Palestine,’ Somaliland is not a virtual state,” Sa’ar says alongside Abdullahi. “It’s a functioning state. Somaliland is a fully functioning country based on the principles of international law. Somaliland is, and has been, a stable democracy for nearly 35 years. It has democratic elections, most recently in November 2024, and peaceful transitions of power. It’s pro-Western and friendly to Israel.”
Sa’ar says Israel is “truly honored” to be the first country to recognize Somaliland as an independent and sovereign country.
“This is the moral thing to do and this is what we did,” says Sa’ar. “We hear the attacks, the criticism, the condemnations. Nobody will determine for Israel whom we recognize and whom we maintain diplomatic relations with.”
“We hope to see other nations soon follow suit,” he continues, amid rumors that other countries could recognize Somaliland in the near future.
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