Sa’ar reveals secret October meeting with Somaliland’s visiting president

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar meets Somaliland’s President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, revealing in a readout from his office that the two leaders secretly met at the ministry in October, two months before Israel became the first country in the world to recognize Somaliland.

“I will always be proud of the privilege I had to write, with you and your people, the first pages in the story of the Israel-Somaliland relationship. I am certain this partnership will continue to grow stronger for the benefit of both our nations,” Sa’ar says, thanking Abdillahi for his “historic” decision to open an embassy in Jerusalem.

Sa’ar acknowledges “there are indeed challenges in building the relationship between Israel and Somaliland,” which broke away from Somalia in 1991. Jerusalem’s unilateral recognition of the country was condemned internationally, including by the African Union and over a dozen Muslim-majority nations, which also issued a joint statement condemning Somaliland’s decision to open its embassy in Jerusalem.

“Unfortunately, there are many trying to undermine [bilateral ties]. They will not be successful,” Sa’ar vows, adding, “I am certain this partnership will continue to grow stronger for the benefit of both our nations.”