Israel's first ambassador to Somaliland has presented his credentials in Hargeisa, making the Jewish state the first UN member to post an envoy to the self-declared republic and deepening a diplomatic row that has drawn in Somalia, the African Union and the Arab League.

Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, popularly known as Cirro, received ambassador Michael Lotem in a ceremony that also saw the laying of the cornerstone for an Israeli embassy, Israel's Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday. Al Jazeera and Africanews both reported the development.

'A historical day'

Cirro described the occasion as a "historical day", noting it was the first time a Somaliland president had received the credentials of an ambassador from a UN member state that recognises its independence. He said the partnership "carries important regional and international significance" because of Somaliland's location on the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Lotem said Israel's recognition acknowledged what Somaliland had built over 35 years. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said the exchange of ambassadors fulfilled commitments made when the two established relations.

Key milestones in the relationship:

  • December 26, 2025: Israel becomes the first UN member state to recognise Somaliland.
  • January 2026: Sa'ar visits Somaliland.
  • June 2026: Somaliland opens an embassy in West Jerusalem during Cirro's visit to Israel.
  • Late October 2026: Lotem presents his credentials in Hargeisa.

Somalia cries foul

Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991 and has run its own affairs since, but Mogadishu still regards it as part of its territory and no other UN member recognises it. Somalia condemned Israel's recognition as "a violation of its sovereignty", and the African Union, the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation have also criticised the move.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud told Sky News this week that Israel's interest was strategic rather than principled. "Israel wants the Red Sea, that is the only reason," he said, alleging that Israel was seeking a naval base in the territory. Somaliland officials have previously signalled openness to hosting an Israeli base, though Cirro recently said no such talks had taken place.

Why it matters for the region

Somaliland sits across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen, close to the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a chokepoint for shipping between the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal. The UN's Yemen envoy Hans Grundberg warned on October 9 that Yemen had returned to "full-scale war", raising the stakes for the area.

For Kenya, the dispute adds strain in a Horn of Africa that already faces instability. Nairobi has long backed Somalia's territorial integrity in line with the African Union's position. The development also comes as the UN closes its political mission in Somalia and Uganda begins withdrawing troops, leaving Kenya and other partners under pressure in the fight against al-Shabaab.

Photos: Somaliland Presidency handout via Al Jazeera (Michael Lotem and President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi in Hargeisa); AP via Africanews (Somaliland's ambassador to Israel in Jerusalem). Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.