Irro’s Israel visit puts Somaliland ties in spotlight

Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro arrived in Israel on a visit he called historic, marking what he described as the first state visit by a Somaliland president to the country and a major step in the rapidly expanding relationship between Hargeisa and Tel Aviv.

“I have arrived in Israel as the first President of the Republic of Somaliland to undertake a State Visit, and I am honoured by the warm welcome extended by my friend, President Isaac Herzog,” Abdullahi said in a statement posted on his official accounts.

“For thirty-five years, the people of Somaliland have built a peaceful, democratic, and resilient nation. We asked the world: Do you see us? Israel answered first,” he said, calling the visit “a historic milestone” and “the beginning of a new chapter” in ties between Somaliland and Israel.

Herzog welcomed Abdullahi in a separate statement, saying the visit “symbolizes the great potential of the new partnership between our two nations.”

Since Israel formally recognized Somaliland as an “independent state,” relations between the two sides have expanded quickly, although much of the relationship remains opaque. The move marked a major diplomatic breakthrough for Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but had not previously secured recognition from any United Nations member state.

The diplomatic track has moved faster than many observers expected. Israel appointed Michael Lotem as its first non-resident ambassador to Somaliland, while Somaliland appointed Mohamed Hagi as its ambassador to Israel. Somaliland also announced that its embassy would be located in Jerusalem, while Israel said it would establish representation in Hargeisa.

That decision immediately deepened the controversy surrounding the relationship. Jerusalem remains one of the most disputed cities in the world. Israel claims the whole city as its capital, while Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state. East Jerusalem was occupied by Israel in 1967 and later annexed in a move rejected by the United Nations Security Council.

Beyond public diplomacy, the expanding relationship appears to include a security component, although few official details have been released. Somaliland officials have acknowledged that security discussions are part of the relationship, but they have not fully explained the scope, terms, or legal basis of any arrangement with Israel.

This lack of transparency has fueled speculation that the partnership is not limited to recognition and embassies, but may also involve intelligence cooperation, access to strategic facilities, and possible military coordination. The ambiguity has become especially important because Somaliland’s location gives it direct relevance to Red Sea security, Yemen, the Gulf of Aden, and wider regional operations.

The security dimension came under scrutiny after reports indicated that Somaliland had been used as part of Israel’s regional posture during operations against Iran. Recent CNN reporting indicated that Somaliland was among the locations that provided Israel with covert logistical support, including a possible stopover or support point for long-range aircraft. The reports also referred to Israeli military and intelligence deployments in several countries around Iran’s wider perimeter.

No full official account has been made public by either Israel or Somaliland, and the precise nature of Somaliland’s role remains unclear. Still, the claims have added weight to concerns that the relationship may have moved into sensitive military and intelligence territory.

Berbera has also become central to the discussion. The port city and its airport have long been viewed as among Somaliland’s most valuable strategic assets because of their position near major maritime routes and the entrance to the Red Sea. Reports of airport development, foreign security interest, and potential military use have raised questions about whether Berbera could become part of a wider network of facilities used by Israel.

There have also been reports that Somaliland intelligence and special units have received training connected to Israel, and that Israeli-linked intelligence activity may have been established inside Somaliland.

Inside Somaliland, the secrecy surrounding the relationship has already produced political pressure. Earlier this year, former president and influential political figure Muse Bihi Abdi questioned the government over the details of the arrangement with Israel and called for the terms to be made public. His intervention reflected a broader concern among some political actors that recognition should not come at the cost of undisclosed security commitments.

Somaliland officials have argued that the territory has the right to pursue its own foreign policy and security partnerships. Critics, however, warn that entering opaque arrangements with a state involved in major regional conflicts could expose Somaliland and the wider Somali region to risks they did not choose.

Somalia’s federal government has rejected the relationship from the outset, calling Israel’s recognition of Somaliland a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Mogadishu has pursued diplomatic pressure through international forums and regional partners, including the United Nations, the African Union, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Arab and Muslim-majority states, and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

A series of condemnations followed both the recognition and Somaliland’s plan to open an embassy in Jerusalem, although the United Arab Emirates has remained a notable exception because of its close ties with Israel and its own interests in Berbera.

In a recent interview, Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud described Israel’s recognition as a “dark day” and warned that Somalia must not be dragged into a proxy conflict. He said Israel had approached Somalia several times before turning to Somaliland in pursuit of security interests in the region, but argued that Mogadishu could not accept arrangements that might import outside conflicts into Somali territory.

Irro’s latest visit reflects the growing ties between the two sides. It remains unclear whether Israel and Somaliland have reached any formal security agreement, even though some Somaliland officials have indicated that security cooperation is part of the relationship. The visit is expected to strengthen relations between Israel and Somaliland, and it comes at a time of growing security turmoil in the Red Sea, where Israel is seeking a stronger regional foothold.