Cairo, Egypt – Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, strongly condemned the visit of the Israeli Foreign Minister to Hargeisa, a city in northwestern Somalia, on Tuesday morning. He described it as a failed attempt to legitimize an illegitimate move aimed at consolidating Israeli recognition of the secession of the “Somaliland” region from the Somali state.
Aboul Gheit affirmed that the League of Arab States reiterates its categorical rejection of any official or semi-official dealings with the authorities of the separatist region outside the framework of the national sovereignty of the Federal Government of Somalia. He stressed that this move constitutes a blatant violation of Somalia’s unity and sovereignty and threatens to undermine regional peace and security. Furthermore, it contributes to exacerbating political and security tensions in Somalia and its surrounding region, particularly in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Horn of Africa.
Jamal Rushdi, the official spokesperson for the Secretary-General, explained that the visit was met with widespread Arab and international rejection and condemnation. He noted that the Council of the League of Arab States, in its meeting held on December 28, 2025, deemed this step null and void and unacceptable in all respects. It carries dangerous implications that extend beyond internal Somali affairs.
Rushdi indicated that the Council viewed these actions as an attempt to facilitate plans for the forced displacement of the Palestinian people and the violation of Somali ports. Furthermore, the Council considers the pursuit of establishing military bases in a strategically highly sensitive region a threat to the security and stability of international navigation in the Red Sea.
The spokesperson added that the Arab League will continue to provide full political and technical support to Somali state institutions to strengthen their capacity to confront any attempts to undermine their territorial integrity or national sovereignty.
In a related development, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar paid his first official visit to Hargeisa, the capital of the Somaliland region, on Tuesday. The visit, at the invitation of the region’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, was reportedly conducted in complete secrecy and under tight security, according to Hebrew sources.
