RIYADH: Twenty nations have reaffirmed Somalia’s sovereignty and denounced the recent visit of Israel’s foreign minister to Somaliland, a separatist-seeking region of the country, according to a joint statement issued early on Friday. The nations dismissed Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as an independent state, reaffirmed Somalia’s territorial integrity, and urged Israel to revoke its decision immediately. The nations condemned Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s visit to Somaliland on Tuesday, days after Israel became the only country to formally recognize the breakaway region of Somalia. Saar said Somaliland’s ​president, Abdirahman ‌Mohamed Abdullahi, had ⁠accepted an invitation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Israel. Somaliland has denied recognition allows for Israel to establish military bases there ‌or for the resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza.

Source: The Nation January 09, 2026 06:19 UTC