Israel’s first ambassador to Somaliland has presented his credentials to the breakaway territory’s president during a ceremony in Hargeisa. Officials also laid the cornerstone for an Israeli embassy during the event, which was announced by Israel’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday as having taken place the previous week.
Diplomatic Milestone
The development implements an agreement from December 26, 2025, when Israel became the first United Nations member state to recognize Somaliland. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, though Mogadishu continues to claim the territory, and it has remained without recognition from any other UN member state for over three decades.
President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known as Cirro, called it a historical day, noting it was the first instance of a Somaliland president receiving credentials from an ambassador representing a UN member state that recognizes its independence. Ambassador Michael Lotem stated that Israel’s recognition honors what Somaliland has constructed over 35 years rather than acting as a simple diplomatic formality.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stated that the exchange of ambassadors fulfilled promises made when diplomatic relations were established. Sa’ar traveled to Somaliland in January, and the territory established an embassy in West Jerusalem when Cirro visited Israel in June.
Strategic Importance and Regional Reaction
During the ceremony, Cirro highlighted the strategic position of Somaliland near the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, emphasizing that their partnership holds regional and international importance. Somaliland sits across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen, close to the Bab al-Mandeb strait, which serves as a crucial shipping lane connecting the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
Conflict has escalated on the Yemeni side of the strait in recent weeks. United Nations envoy Hans Grundberg cautioned on October 9 that Yemen had reverted to full-scale war, involving fighting between the Iran-aligned Houthi movement and forces loyal to the internationally recognized government.
Israel has previously confirmed a security partnership that existed prior to official diplomatic recognition. When Cirro visited Israel in June, Defence Minister Israel Katz reported that both sides had collaborated on covert operations for years and intended to broaden their security cooperation.
In contrast, Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud questioned Israel’s intentions in an interview with Sky News, asserting that Israel’s goal was securing access to the Red Sea rather than backing Somaliland’s independence. Mohamud further claimed that Israel seeks to establish a naval base in the territory. While Somaliland officials have expressed willingness to consider hosting an Israeli military base, the territory’s president stated recently that no discussions had taken place.
Somalia denounced Israel’s recognition of Somaliland in December as an infringement upon its sovereignty, and the decision has likewise faced condemnation from the Arab League, the African Union, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
