Somaliland and Israel to establish diplomatic missions in mutual capitals
Ambassador Mohamed Hagi confirms embassies will open in Jerusalem and Hargeisa, drawing condemnation from UN and African Union while marking Israel as first state to recognise Somaliland
Somaliland and Israel have announced plans to open diplomatic missions in each other’s capitals, a move that formalises the bilateral relationship following Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region’s independence last December. Mohamed Hagi, Somaliland’s ambassador to Israel, confirmed on Tuesday that the region will establish an embassy in Jerusalem, while Israel will set up a representation office in Hargeisa.
The announcement, described by Hagi as a reflection of “growing friendship, mutual respect, and strategic cooperation,” marks a significant escalation in the diplomatic status of the self-declared state. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar welcomed the development as a “significant step” in strengthening ties, stating that both nations would work to implement the decision “soon.”
This development follows a timeline of engagement that began with a visit by Foreign Minister Saar to Hargeisa in January. Prior to the full recognition of independence in December, Somaliland had already begun technical cooperation, sending a delegation from its water ministry to Israel for training in water management. Hagi, who also serves as a presidential adviser, played a central role in brokering the initial recognition, ending more than 30 years of diplomatic isolation for the region.
The establishment of the embassy in Jerusalem places Somaliland among a small group of nations that have chosen to locate their diplomatic missions in the contested city. It will be the eighth such embassy, joining those of the United States, Guatemala, Kosovo, Honduras, Paraguay, Papua New Guinea, and Fiji. The decision carries significant geopolitical weight, as the status of Jerusalem remains a core issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the majority of the 96 diplomatic missions in Israel located in Tel Aviv to avoid prejudicing peace negotiations.
The move has been met with immediate and widespread condemnation from major international bodies. The UN Security Council, the African Union, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the European Union have all criticised the decision. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but remains unrecognized by any UN member state, a status that makes the establishment of embassies a provocative act in the eyes of the international community and Somalia itself.
