Somalia rejects Israeli ambassador and embassy plans
Mogadishu declares Israel's moves in Somaliland a violation of sovereignty, calling them null and void.
Somalia's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday rejected Israel's appointment of an ambassador to Somaliland and plans for an embassy in Hargeisa. The ministry stated these actions were taken without the Federal Government's consent and are therefore "null and void and without legal effect." Somalia maintains that Somaliland is part of its territory and lacks the authority to establish independent diplomatic ties.
Michael Lotem, Israel's first ambassador to Somaliland, presented his credentials to Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro in Hargeisa. A ceremony was also held to lay the cornerstone for a planned Israeli embassy. Israel formally recognised Somaliland on December 26, 2025, becoming the first UN member state to do so since the region declared independence in 1991.
Somalia has urged Israel to reverse these decisions and called on the international community not to recognise steps that could undermine its territorial integrity. The government warned that the developments could heighten tensions in the strategically important Red Sea and Gulf of Aden region.
Why it mattersSomalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity are directly challenged by Israel's diplomatic moves in Somaliland.