# Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

> What Somaliland's foreign ministry does, who leads it, its work on recognition, Israel's 2025 recognition, and its 2026 statements on Somalia, Ethiopia and Berbera.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/institutions/somaliland-ministry-of-foreign-affairs/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## What it does

The ministry handles Somaliland's relations with other governments and international bodies, and its missions and representative offices abroad ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Foreign_Affairs_(Somaliland))). Its central aim since 1991 has been recognition of Somaliland as an independent state. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991; Somalia considers Somaliland part of its territory and opposes its recognition ([Dawan Africa, 3 October 2026](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somaliland-rejects-hassan-sheikhs-remarks-on-its-status-and-foreign-relations)).

## Who leads it

| Office | Person | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minister | Abdirahman Dahir Adan (also written Adam Bakal), since 14 December 2024 | [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Foreign_Affairs_(Somaliland)) |
| Deputy minister | Roda Jama Elmi | [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Foreign_Affairs_(Somaliland)) |

Earlier ministers include Dr Essa Kayd Mohamoud ([Somaliland Current](https://www.somalilandcurrent.com/former-foreign-minister-essa-kayd-mohamoud-delivers-powerful-call-for-unity-and-global-acceptance/)). The full list is on [foreign ministers of Somaliland](/en/institutions/foreign-ministers-of-somaliland/); Somaliland's presidents are on [presidents of Somaliland](/en/institutions/presidents-of-somaliland/).

## Recognition by Israel

On 26 December 2025 Israel formally recognised Somaliland's independence. Israel's foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar visited Hargeisa in January 2026, the first visit by an Israeli foreign minister in 34 years, and was received by President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro) ([Somaliland Standard](https://somalilandstandard.com/president-irro-welcomes-israeli-foreign-minister-gideon-saar-during-historic-visit-to-somaliland)). Somalia's foreign ministry issued a joint statement calling the visit illegal ([Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Somalia](https://web.mfa.gov.so/joint-statement-on-the-illegal-visit-of-the-israeli-official-to-somaliland-region-of-the-federal-republic-of-somalia-on-6-january-2026/)). The reactions of other governments and bodies are on [Somalia and Israel](/en/relations/israel/).

## Its statements in 2026

On 3 October 2026 the ministry answered remarks by Somalia's President [Hassan Sheikh Mohamud](/en/people/hassan-sheikh-mohamud/) in an interview with Al Jazeera. It said ([Dawan Africa, 3 October 2026](https://www.dawan.africa/news/somaliland-rejects-hassan-sheikhs-remarks-on-its-status-and-foreign-relations)):

- that Somalia had no authority to decide Somaliland's diplomatic relations;
- that Somaliland became independent on 26 June 1960, before Somalia on 1 July 1960, and that its withdrawal from the union on 18 May 1991 reaffirmed its statehood;
- that its ties with Israel are based on cooperation, development and regional stability, and it rejected claims that Berbera could be used to launch attacks on other countries;
- that it supports Ethiopia's access to the sea and rejects interference in the 2024 memorandum of understanding between Ethiopia and Somaliland.

Earlier in 2026 the ministry denied reports of foreign forces in the [Awdal](/en/regions/awdal/) region ([Buraopost](https://bbndailynews.blogspot.com/2026/01/somaliland-rejects-claims-of-foreign.html)).

## Related pages

[Somaliland's institutions](/en/institutions/somaliland-institutions/), [Somaliland 1991 to 2026](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/), [Somalia and Ethiopia](/en/relations/ethiopia/) and the federal [Ministry of Foreign Affairs](/en/institutions/ministry-of-foreign-affairs/).

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