Israeli FM visits Somaliland after world-first recognition storm

"Israel's foreign minister has arrived in Somaliland for the first high-level diplomatic visit since the country became the first in the world to recognise the breakaway region's independence over a week and a half ago, triggering condemnation and concerns that Palestinians may be forcibly expelled by Israel there. Gideon Saar landed in the capital Hargeisa on Tuesday and was received by government officials at the airport, according to a statement from Somaliland's presidency."

"Somalia's foreign ministry condemned Saar's visit as an unauthorized incursion into its sovereign territory. The ministry said any official presence or engagement in Somali territory without Mogadishu's consent was illegal, null, and void. The Israeli visit comes as regional opposition to Israel's recognition intensifies, with the African Union convening an emergency ministerial session on Tuesday to address the move. The session, which was not part of the AU Peace and Security Council's original January agenda, was specially convened following requests from member states."

Gideon Saar arrived in Hargeisa as the first Israeli foreign minister to visit Somaliland after Israel recognised Somaliland's independence. He was received by government officials and was scheduled to meet President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, with footage circulating online showing them together. Somalia's foreign ministry condemned the visit as an unauthorized incursion and declared any official engagement in Somali territory without Mogadishu's consent illegal, null, and void. The African Union convened an emergency ministerial session to address the recognition amid regional opposition. Egypt called the recognition a blatant violation of Somalia's sovereignty. Somaliland officials described the visit as a defining and irreversible diplomatic milestone. Israel recognised Somaliland on December 26.

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