Israel welcomes Somaliland president in ‘historic’ visit

Article excerpt

Israel hosted Somaliland's President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud in Jerusalem, marking what officials called a historic visit following Israel's formal recognition of the breakaway region as an independent state. The trip underscores Israel's expanding diplomatic outreach in the Horn of Africa, a region where it has intensified engagement in recent years. Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but remains internationally unrecognized by most nations, sees the Israeli recognition as a significant diplomatic win. The visit comes as Israel pursues strategic partnerships across Africa and the Middle East, and as Somaliland seeks broader international legitimacy for its bid for sovereignty. Details of agreements or discussions during the visit were not immediately disclosed.