The move follows Israel’s recognition of Somaliland
Somaliland has officially opened an embassy in Israel, the territory’s Foreign Ministry announced on Monday. Israel remains the only state to recognize the self-declared breakaway region of Somalia as a sovereign country.
The move comes after Somaliland Ambassador Mohamed Hagi visited Israel in May and revealed plans for the diplomatic mission to be based in Jerusalem. He also said Israel would open its own embassy in Hargeisa, Somaliland’s capital.
“The opening of Somaliland’s first-ever embassy in Jerusalem — a historic and long-awaited moment the people of Somaliland have waited more than 35 years to witness,” the Somaliland’s Foreign Ministry wrote on X.
Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Moshe Sa’ar attended the inauguration ceremony. Abdullahi arrived in Israel on Sunday and was received by President Isaac Herzog at the Presidential Residence in Jerusalem. It was the first state visit by a Somaliland leader to Israel.
“This historic milestone reflects Somaliland’s growing international presence and the strengthening partnership between Somaliland and Israel, founded on mutual respect, cooperation, and shared interests,” Abdullahi said in a post on X, commenting on the opening of the new embassy.
Abdullahi added that Somaliland and Israel had signed a Strategic Joint Declaration of Cooperation “marking a historic milestone in relations between our two nations.”
Somalia condemned Somaliland’s decision to open an embassy in Israel in May, calling it illegal and a violation of the country’s sovereignty. The African Union also opposed Israel’s appointment of an envoy to Somaliland, reaffirming support for Somalia’s territorial integrity.
Somalia’s current political landscape emerged after the collapse of the central government in 1991, when several regions established their own administrations. Somaliland declared independence the same year and has since operated with its own governing institutions, although remaining without international recognition.
Puntland, in northeastern Somalia, declared itself an autonomous region in 1998. Unlike Somaliland, it supports a federal Somali state and does not seek full independence.
