In a statement issued from the Presidential Palace in Hargeisa, Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi said he had received Sa’ar and a high-level Israeli delegation on an official state visit, thanking Israel for what he described as a “historic and courageous” recognition decision.
“This milestone reflects a relationship founded on mutual respect and shared interests, aimed at cooperation and stability without prejudice to any party. This recognition opens a new chapter of formal diplomatic relations, security, economic, and development cooperation, serving the mutual interests of both nations and contributing positively to peace and stability in the Horn of Africa,” the president said.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Israel is determined to vigorously advance relations with Somaliland. “Today, we held substantive discussions with the President and senior members of his government on the full range of our relations. The mutual recognition and establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries are not directed against anyone,” he said.
Somaliland takes center stage in Israel – Africa strategy
For Israel, Somaliland offers something few other African partners can: strategic geography. The territory sits along the Gulf of Aden near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s most important shipping corridors linking the Middle East, East Africa and Asia.
Control and stability around this maritime chokepoint are central to global energy flows, trade routes and regional security.
By recognising Somaliland and opening formal relations, Israel gains a politically aligned partner overlooking one of the most sensitive security zones in the world, where Iranian influence, militant networks and proxy conflicts intersect with global shipping lanes.
This makes Somaliland far more than a symbolic diplomatic win.
Somaliland’s leadership, for its part, has positioned itself as a reliable and responsible partner, stressing its commitment to regional and international peace and security.
The move also fits into Israel’s broader Africa strategy. Morocco, which normalised ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords in 2020, has become Israel’s main North African security anchor, with joint military planning and defence cooperation now locked in through 2026.
Somaliland now provides a second strategic pillar in East Africa, creating a security and diplomatic arc stretching from the Atlantic-facing Maghreb to the Red Sea corridor.
