{"id":451007,"date":"2026-05-20T10:30:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T10:30:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/451007\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T10:30:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T10:30:14","slug":"somalilands-first-ever-embassy-anywhere-will-open-in-jerusalem-envoy-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/451007\/","title":{"rendered":"Somaliland’s first-ever embassy anywhere will open in Jerusalem, envoy says"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Republic of Somaliland will open an embassy in Jerusalem, its first anywhere in the world, the state\u2019s ambassador to Israel said Tuesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am pleased to announce that the Republic of Somaliland\u2019s Embassy will be located in Jerusalem \u2014 the Embassy will be opened soon, while Israel will also establish its Embassy in Hargeisa, reflecting growing friendship, mutual respect and strategic cooperation between our two peoples,\u201d Somaliland\u2019s Ambassador to Israel Mohamed Hagi wrote on X.<\/p>\n

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa\u2019ar hailed the \u201cimportant decision\u201d to open the embassy in \u201cour eternal capital, Jerusalem,\u201d calling it \u201canother significant step in strengthening relations between our countries and nations.\u201d<\/p>\n

In December, Israel became the first country in the world to recognize Somaliland, which broke away from Somalia in 1991. Last month, Israel appointed its first ambassador to Somaliland, Michael Lotem, and Sa\u2019ar visited the country in January this year.<\/p>\n

Hagi was visiting Israel, as he is not yet residing in the country, and was received by President Isaac Herzog<\/a> on Monday, which was also Somaliland\u2019s Independence Day.<\/p>\n

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Somaliland has its own currency, passport, and army, but has struggled to win international recognition, amid concerns in many capitals that this would provoke Somalia and encourage other separatist movements in Africa. Israel\u2019s recognition of the breakaway state<\/a> drew international backlash.<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/a>
\n\t\tPresident Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (left) greets Foreign Minister Gideon Sa\u2019ar (right) at the Presidential Palace in Hargeisa, Somaliland on January 6, 2026. (Gideon Sa\u2019ar via X)<\/p>\n

Located in the Horn of Africa, Somaliland enjoys a strategic position across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen, where the Iran-backed Houthis hold territory, making it strategically valuable for Israel.<\/p>\n

The terror group Houthis began attacking Israel and maritime traffic in November 2023, a month after the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre, drawing Israeli airstrikes. They halted attacks after a ceasefire was reached in Gaza in October 2025.<\/p>\n

Somaliland will be the eighth country to open an embassy in Jerusalem. Most nations\u2019 embassies in Israel are in Tel Aviv, with countries arguing Jerusalem\u2019s standing can only be decided as part of a final status agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, who claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state.<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/a>
\n\t\tMuslims pray along a market street before breaking from their fast as they commemorate the holy month of Ramadan in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland on February 19, 2026. (Tony KARUMBA \/ AFP)<\/p>\n

Israel took control of East Jerusalem \u2013 which includes the Old City and its holy sites \u2013 from Jordan during the 1967 Six Day War. Israel annexed the territory in 1980 and considers the entire city its capital.<\/p>\n

On Sunday, the government approved a proposal to financially incentivize countries to move their embassies to Jerusalem. The framework, proposed by Sa\u2019ar and Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage Minister Yariv Levin, would use funding from both ministries to cover some of the expenses of establishing or relocating embassies to the capital.<\/p>\n

Currently, seven countries have embassies in Jerusalem \u2014 the US, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, and Fiji. In December, Ecuador opened an innovation office with diplomatic status in Jerusalem.<\/p>\n

Lazar Berman and Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.<\/p>\n


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