Although Israel has recognized Somaliland, we found that reaching it as Israelis is anything but straightforward. We tried to board a Fly Dubai flight to Dubai in order to catch a connecting flight to Somaliland, but hopes aside, reality intervened.
It turns out that political and diplomatic realities do not align with Israel's recognition. Not only are there no direct flights to Somaliland, but the visa process for Somalia, Somaliland's neighbor, has turned any attempt to reach the region into an almost insurmountable challenge.
Somaliland, despite having been formally recognized by Israel, is not recognized by any other country in the world. A direct result of this situation is the absence of direct flights to the territory. In addition, international airlines also do not recognize Somaliland, which means there is no easy way for Israelis to get there. In practice, traveling to Somaliland requires first flying to Somalia, the larger neighboring country. The problem is that Israelis cannot obtain a visa to Somalia unless they hold a foreign passport.
If you do manage to secure a Somali visa, entry into Somaliland itself is relatively simple. Hargeisa International Airport, located in Somaliland's capital, offers visitors a visa on arrival for about $60. The process is handled on the spot and takes only a few minutes.
Israel's recognition of Somaliland has not provided practical solutions for Israelis who want to visit. The political system, rooted in conflict and a lack of international recognition, has created a situation in which every attempt to reach the territory runs into seemingly impenetrable bureaucratic barriers.
While recognition of a state does not always translate into practical solutions or conditions that allow tourists to arrive, in the case of Somaliland the story highlights the wide gap between government policy and a political reality that complicates any effort at direct engagement. In the end, even though Israel has recognized Somaliland, the path to reaching it remains blocked for Israelis, and we were left grounded.
