The decision taken by Israel after becoming the only country in the world to recognize Somaliland
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Sunday the appointment of Michael Lotem as Israel's first ambassador to Somaliland, four months after Israel recognized the territory, according to France Presse.
“Michael Lotem has been appointed the first ambassador of Israel to Somaliland,” the ministry announced in a statement, stating that this appointment “follows the establishment of relations between the two countries in December 2025 and the historic visit of Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Saar to Somaliland in January this year.”
“Mr. Lotem currently holds the position of roving economic ambassador for the African continent,” the statement states.
The decision comes after, on December 26, 2025, Israel became the first and only country to recognize Somaliland as an “independent and sovereign state” since its secession from Somalia in 1991.
Two months later, Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced its intention to appoint an ambassador.
Mohamed Hagi, Somaliland's ambassador to Israel, in turn obtained the approval of the Israeli government as early as February 2026.
Somaliland enjoys a strategic position in the Gulf of Aden and has its own currency, passport and army, but faces difficulties in gaining international recognition amid fears it could anger Somalia and encourage other separatist movements in Africa.
Photo: Sergey Mayorov | Dreamstime.com
