![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Faisal-Ali-Headshot-1756804692.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nPublished On 15 Apr 202615 Apr 2026<\/p>\n
Israel has appointed its first ambassador to Somaliland, months after it officially recognised the breakaway region in Somalia.<\/p>\n
The appointment of Michael Lotem, who has previously served as Israel\u2019s ambassador to Kenya, was reported by Israel\u2019s public broadcaster on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list<\/p>\n
It is the latest step in a partnership that has gathered pace rapidly since December, when Israel became the first country<\/a> in the world to recognise Somaliland, ending more than 30 years of diplomatic isolation.<\/p>\n On Tuesday, Somaliland\u2019s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, told a joint session of parliament that Israel had proven itself a \u201creliable partner\u201d, drawing lawmakers to their feet in applause.<\/p>\n But Somalia\u2019s foreign ministry released a statement condemning Israel\u2019s decision to appoint an ambassdor, describing it as a \u201cdirect breach\u201d of the country\u2019s sovereignty and unity.<\/p>\n Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, following a devastating civil war, but Somalia<\/a> has never recognised it.<\/p>\n Israel\u2019s recognition of Somaliland has drawn wide condemnation<\/a> from the UN Security Council, the African Union, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the European Union.<\/p>\n Since Israel\u2019s announcement in December, both sides have moved swiftly to develop the relationship.<\/p>\n Israel\u2019s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, visited<\/a> Somaliland\u2019s capital, Hargeisa, in January, and Somaliland subsequently sent a delegation from its water ministry to Israel for training in water management.<\/p>\n Somaliland\u2019s president told the news agency Reuters in February that he expected a trade deal with Israel to follow soon.<\/p>\n Israel has also granted diplomatic approval to Mohamed Hagi, a presidential adviser who was central to brokering the recognition, as Somaliland\u2019s first ambassador to Israel.<\/p>\n Somali officials have been angered by the growing ties, with the country\u2019s president earlier this year calling it the \u201cgravest attack<\/a>\u201d on the country\u2019s sovereignty and accusing Israel of seeking to establish a military base to launch attacks against Yemen.<\/p>\n Somaliland lies across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen<\/a>, where the Iran-backed Houthi movement controls the country\u2019s northwest. The group is hostile to Israel and began firing missiles at the country in late March in response to Israeli strikes on Iran.<\/p>\n