Israel's foreign minister is the first official to visit Somaliland following Israel's controversial recognition of the breakaway region as a sovereign state.

Gideon Saar met Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi in Hargeisa on Tuesday to discuss bilateral ties.

"We are determined to vigorously advance relations between Israel and Somaliland," Saar wrote on X.

Somalia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Saar's visit, calling it "an unacceptable interference in the internal affairs" of Somalia.

Israel recognized Somaliland independence in December

The visit comes less than two weeks after Israel became the only country in the world to recognize the breakaway region's independence.

The African Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and others have rejected Israel's recognition of Somaliland.

Despite this, Saar said the Somaliland leader has accepted an invitation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Israel.

Netanyahu had previously said Israel would pursue cooperation in agriculture, health, technology and the economy.

In a sign of deepening ties, Saar said "local professionals" from Somaliland's water sector would visit Israel in the coming months for training.

Edited by: Wesley Dockery