UPDATE - Israeli foreign minister arrives in Somaliland after recognition: Media

UPDATES WITH DETAILS

By Lina Altawell and Rania Abushamala

ISTANBUL (AA) — Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar arrived in Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland on Wednesday, almost two weeks after Tel Aviv recognized the region amid international outrage, Israeli media reported.

Saar is expected to meet with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi during the visit, a Somaliland diplomatic source told Israeli channel i24NEWS.

The two officials are scheduled to hold a joint news conference later in the day, the source said.

The visit “aims to advance meaningful political and strategic cooperation between Israel and Somaliland,” he added.

There was no official Israeli comment on the visit.

On Dec. 26, Israel announced its official recognition of Somaliland as an independent, sovereign state, making Tel Aviv the only country in the world to recognize the breakaway region.

The Israeli move sparked widespread regional rejection, particularly from the Arab countries, which described it as illegal and a threat to international peace and security.

Somalia also reaffirmed its firm and non-negotiable commitment to its sovereignty, national unity, and territorial integrity, declaring its categorical rejection of the Israeli move.

Somaliland, which has lacked official recognition since declaring independence from Somalia in 1991, operates as a de facto independent administrative, political, and security entity, with the central government unable to assert control over the region, and its leadership unable to secure international recognition of independence.