President Isaac Herzog hosted Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known as “Irro,” at his residence in Jerusalem on Sunday – the first-ever visit by a Somaliland head of state to Israel.
From Davos to Jerusalem – an alliance takes shape
Israel became the first country in the world to officially recognize Somaliland, which broke away from Somalia in 1991, as an independent state in December 2025 – a move that drew sharp international criticism. Mogadishu has “categorically” rejected any recognition of Somaliland, and Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Indonesia also condemned Israel’s decision. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar had already visited Hargeisa in January, and in May Somaliland’s first ambassador to Israel, Dr. Mohamed Hagi, presented his credentials to Herzog – accompanied by a symbolic moment in which the presidential orchestra played Somaliland’s national anthem for the first time.
President Abdullahi himself had driven the rapprochement forward: at a meeting with Sa’ar in Hargeisa in January and later at the World Economic Forum in Davos – where he also met Eric Trump – he signaled interest in joining the Abraham Accords as well as a trade agreement that could give Israel access to Somaliland’s valuable mineral deposits.
Yad Vashem, Herzl’s grave – and talks with Netanyahu
The visit’s itinerary is dense and symbolically loaded: Irro visited the grave of Theodor Herzl, founder of modern Zionism, and toured the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, accompanied by its chairman Dani Dayan. The most significant political meetings are scheduled for Monday: talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Sa’ar, during which, according to Israeli media, additional bilateral agreements are expected to be signed in fields including agriculture, mining, oil, security, infrastructure and tourism.
The partnership also carries strategic weight because Somaliland’s northern coast lies on the Gulf of Aden – directly across from Yemen, from where Iran-backed Houthi forces have for months attacked Israel and shipping in the Red Sea. A closer alliance with Somaliland could provide Israel with geostrategic support at the southern approach to the Red Sea – a region of growing importance given ongoing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Aden.
