The president of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi, is expected to make his first official visit to Israel at the end of March, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
However, this will not be his first time in the country. The president previously made a discreet visit to Israel during earlier diplomatic contacts that led to Israel's formal recognition of Somaliland in December 2025. Those quiet negotiations preceded the current warming of relations between the two sides.
Building on these developments, Somaliland — a self-declared state recognized only by Israel — now seeks to deepen its ties with Jerusalem beyond diplomacy. Officials are interested in expanding cooperation in technology, agriculture, and innovation. Israel is widely seen as a global leader in these areas.
Prepared to make trade, military deals with the United States
In a related diplomatic initiative to expand international relationships, a senior Somaliland minister told France 24 that the territory is prepared to offer the United States access to its natural resources and military infrastructure as part of its push for international recognition.
Khadar Hussein Abdi, Somaliland’s minister of the presidency, stated that Somaliland would grant Washington exclusive access to key mineral deposits. He also said Somaliland is open to hosting US military bases. These remarks reflect an effort to position Somaliland as a strategic partner in the Horn of Africa.
He framed the proposal as a pragmatic way to strengthen ties with Washington and advance Somaliland’s quest for recognition as an independent state. The region declared independence from Somalia in 1991, but remains largely unrecognized internationally. Somaliland sees deeper engagement with major powers as a path to legitimacy. The minister suggested that cooperation with the US could lead to broader agreements and, eventually, formal diplomatic recognition.