Mogadishu — The Arab League has strongly condemned the visit by Israel’s foreign minister to Hargeisa, describing it as an illegitimate attempt to legitimize the recognition of Somaliland and a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said the visit, which took place on January 6, forms part of what he called a failed effort to advance Israel’s move toward recognizing Somaliland—an action he said falls outside the internationally recognized framework of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
Aboul Gheit reaffirmed the Arab League’s long-standing position rejecting any official or quasi-official engagement with separatist entities operating beyond the authority of Somalia’s federal government. He warned that such actions constitute a blatant violation of Somalia’s unity and sovereignty and pose a serious threat to regional peace and security.
The secretary-general cautioned that the move risks inflaming political tensions not only within Somalia but also across the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the wider Horn of Africa—regions already facing heightened security and geopolitical pressures.
In a separate statement, Arab League spokesperson Gamal Rashidi said the visit had been widely rejected and condemned at both Arab and international levels. He recalled that the Arab League Council, meeting on December 28, 2025, declared any actions aimed at recognizing Somaliland to be null, void, and unacceptable.
Rashidi also expressed concern over alleged efforts to facilitate plans involving the displacement of Palestinians, as well as the potential use of Somali ports to establish foreign military bases.
The Arab League said it would continue providing political and technical support to Somali state institutions to counter any moves that could create new zones of conflict, undermine Somalia’s unity and stability, or threaten the strategic security of key Arab maritime routes.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not been recognized by the international community. Israel’s recent recognition of Somaliland and the subsequent high-level visit have triggered sharp reactions from Somalia, regional governments, and multilateral organizations, deepening diplomatic tensions across the Horn of Africa.
