Somaliland does not take Israel’s recognition and hospitality lightly, says country’s president in Jerusalem

Somaliland will remember Israel’s recognition of the country and its willingness to host the first-ever state visit abroad by its leader, says Somaliland’s President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.

“Israel has taken part in a moment that will be remembered in the diplomatic history of our nation, and we do not take that gesture lightly,” says Abdillahi alongside President Isaac Herzog.

“Somaliland has been talking, has been reaching out to the world leaders for the last 35 years,” he continues. “They were asking only one question: to see us. Only one country desired to see us and recognize Somaliland, and that’s the government of Israel and its people.”

Herzog says the bilateral relationships now must move “from declarations to people-to-people cooperation in a range of fields — and we had a very interesting discussion on that — of so many topics of common interest, and we both also face strategic challenges, which are important to both nations.”

“We both face the threat of radical extremism,” says Herzog. “We both seek security and stability in the region and in the Horn of Africa. We both see the importance of protecting maritime freedom.”