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Israel Formalizes Ties With Somaliland, Establishes Embassy

Israel’s ambassador to Somaliland, Michael Lotem, presented his credentials to President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi in Hargeisa last week, and the two sides laid the cornerstone for a new Israeli embassy. The ceremony marked another step in ties that began after mutual recognition on 26 December 2025.

8 newsrooms · 4 languages · since 1 Nov, 12:48

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Israel Formalizes Ties With Somaliland, Establishes Embassy — Illustration by baba

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What happened

01Michael Lotem presented his credentials to Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi at the Presidential Palace in Hargeisa last week.
02The ceremony included laying the cornerstone for a new Israeli embassy in Hargeisa, Somaliland’s capital.
03Israel and Somaliland established mutual recognition on 26 December 2025, and the ceremony was presented as another step in that process.
04Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Israel is determined to advance and solidify relations with Somaliland.
05Sa’ar visited Somaliland in January 2026 after the mutual recognition, according to the reports.
06Somaliland opened an embassy in Jerusalem in June 2026, following its president’s visit to Israel.
07Israel National News said Lotem became Israel’s first ambassador to Somaliland and the first envoy from any sovereign state accredited to the self-declared republic.

The reports say the presentation took place at the Presidential Palace in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Israel is determined to advance and solidify relations with Somaliland, and described the ambassadorial appointment as an important step in the relationship.

After the ceremony, a cornerstone was laid for the future embassy in Hargeisa. Several reports say the move follows earlier diplomatic exchanges, including Sa’ar’s visit to Somaliland in January 2026 and Somaliland’s opening of an embassy in Jerusalem in June 2026.

One report says Lotem became Israel’s first ambassador to Somaliland and the first envoy from any sovereign state accredited to the self-declared republic. Kikar HaShabbat and JDN describe the event as part of the deepening of relations since recognition in December 2025.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 8 newsrooms. Updated 07:01

Latest report: Arab48. Read Arab48’s original

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