Overview
- Gideon Saar arrived in Hargeisa for meetings with President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, with both sides calling the engagement a milestone in ties and Saar describing recognition as the moral choice.
- Somalia denounced the trip as an unauthorised incursion and said it may pursue diplomatic and legal steps, while the African Union’s Peace and Security Council urged Israel to revoke its recognition.
- Israeli and Somaliland officials say they are moving toward full diplomatic relations that include ambassadors and embassies, with Netanyahu inviting Abdullahi to Israel and Saar announcing upcoming technical training for Somaliland water specialists.
- Somalia’s president alleged Somaliland accepted conditions to resettle Palestinians and host an Israeli base, claims the Somaliland government denies, as prior U.S. discussions about Palestinian resettlement were reported but later abandoned.
- Analysts highlight Somaliland’s position by the Gulf of Aden for Red Sea access, the Houthis warned any Israeli presence would be a military target, and Al‑Shabaab vowed to oppose any Israeli use of Somaliland for operations.