Israel Appoints First Ambassador to Somaliland

Israel has appointed its first ambassador to Somaliland. This comes several months after officially recognising the territory that separated from Somalia.

According to AFP on Sunday (26/4/2026), Israel has become the first country to recognise Somaliland’s independence since it declared autonomy from Somalia in 1991 following the civil war.

Michael Lotem, who currently serves as Israel’s roving economic envoy for Africa, will be the envoy to Somaliland. Lotem previously served as ambassador to Kenya, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan.

His appointment follows the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two parties in December 2025. Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, also visited Somaliland in January this year.

In February, Somaliland announced the appointment of Mohamed Hagi as its ambassador to Israel. Somaliland holds a strategic position in the Gulf of Aden and has its own currency, passport, and armed forces.

However, Somaliland struggles to gain international recognition. Such recognition is feared by many countries to provoke Somalia and encourage other separatist movements in Africa.

Saar’s visit to Somaliland has drawn condemnation from Somalia. Somalia has described it as an ‘unauthorised incursion’.