Somalia condemns Israeli foreign minister visit to Hargeisa as violation of sovereignty

Jan 6, 2026

FILE PHOTO: Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar speaks during a meeting with Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto (not pictured), in Budapest, Hungary, October 27, 2025. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo/File Photo — Bernadett Szabo

Jan 6 (Reuters) - Somalia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday condemned a visit by Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to Hargeisa, saying it was a violation of Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The ministry said that any official engagement without Somalia's consent was illegal and void and called on international bodies, including the United Nations and the African Union, to support its territorial integrity.

(Reporting by Sfundo Parakozov and Vincent Mumo Nzilani; Editing by Alex Richardson)

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