Israeli Ambassador Michael Lotem, left, with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi at the presidential palace in Hargeisa, in a photo released on November 1, 2026. Photo: Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs (@somalilandmfa) via X
Michael Lotem, Israel’s first ambassador to Somaliland, has presented his credentials to President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi in Hargeisa, and ground was broken for an Israeli embassy in the city.
Somaliland’s foreign ministry released photos of the ceremony at the presidential palace on Sunday, November 1, showing the president, widely known as Irro, receiving Lotem’s letters of credence. Somaliland Today, a Somaliland news site, reported on October 30 that Lotem had arrived in Hargeisa the night before and would present his credentials that day, and a Somaliland analyst had reported the ceremony on the evening of October 29. It was followed by a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Israeli embassy.
Rashid Abdi, a Horn of Africa analyst, wrote on X that Lotem will work as a non-resident ambassador for the time being and that Israel has been allocated a property in Hargeisa to set up its embassy.
“I am honoured to receive the Letters of Credence of H.E. Mr. Michael Lotem, the first Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Israel to the Republic of Somaliland, marking a historic milestone in our diplomatic relations,” the president said, according to a statement shared by Somaliland accounts on X.
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the ceremony “marks another important step in strengthening relations between Israel and Somaliland, following their mutual recognition on December 26, 2025.” Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said: “Israel is determined to develop and strengthen its relations with Somaliland.” He described the exchange of ambassadors, agreed when the two sides recognized each other, as an important step toward cementing the partnership.
Israel became the first country to recognize Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not been recognized by the African Union or the United Nations. Ties have moved quickly since then. Sa’ar visited Somaliland in January, Somaliland named Mohamed Haji as its representative in Israel in February, and Israel appointed Lotem in April. In June, Irro made what his office called the first state visit by a Somaliland president to another country, meeting Israeli President Isaac Herzog and opening Somaliland’s embassy in Jerusalem. Lotem previously served as Israel’s ambassador to Kenya, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.
The appointment drew a sharp response from Mogadishu. When Lotem was named in April, Somalia’s foreign ministry called it a “direct breach” of the country’s sovereignty. Yemen’s Houthis said at the time that they would regard any Israeli presence in Somaliland as a legitimate target, Al Jazeera reported.
The London based Arabic daily Asharq Al Awsat wrote on Sunday that Israel’s presence in Hargeisa could improve Somaliland’s chances of wider recognition but also intensify tensions across the Horn of Africa. Experts on African affairs told the paper that Somalia, Egypt, Djibouti and Türkiye have raised concerns and reservations. Abdulkarim Said Saleh, a political analyst from Somaliland, told Asharq Al Awsat that the ambassador’s arrival marked an important shift in the region’s political calculations and reflected Israel’s aim to expand its political and security influence in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, close to the Bab el Mandeb and Yemen. For Somaliland, he said, the relationship offers a chance to strengthen its international presence, while Israel gains a partner in a strategically placed location.
On X, the ceremony was celebrated by Somaliland users. “Somaliland has a strong ally,” wrote one, @AmiinIsmail9. Another account, @Cabdalleaxmed, wrote that the ceremony marked the official beginning of the two countries’ diplomatic presence and noted that Somaliland had already set up its embassy in Israel. The account @dhoorebbc shared photos of the event and the Israeli ministry’s statement.
Somaliland sits on the Gulf of Aden opposite Yemen, near the southern approach to the Bab el Mandeb, a location that Saleh said makes it a geographically important partner for Israel.
Sources
- Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs (@somalilandmfa) on X
- @NexusEchoX on X (president’s statement)
- @dhoorebbc on X (Israeli MFA statement)
- Asharq Al Awsat, via @AbdiHirsiBulhan on X
- @HedgehogGeopol on X (Somali and Houthi reactions in April)
- @Cabdalleaxmed on X
- @AmiinIsmail9 on X
- Somaliland Today (@JSLToday) on X
- Dr. Ali Hersi (@qoolbulale) on X
- Rashid Abdi (@RAbdiAnalyst) on X