Somalia sharply condemned Israel on Tuesday following two moves involving Somaliland: the appointment of an Israeli ambassador to the breakaway region and a groundbreaking ceremony for an Israeli embassy in Hargeisa, its capital. Somalia’s government said the actions were taken without its consent, violate its sovereignty, and are null and void. It demanded Israel reverse its decision.
1+“These steps follow Israel’s illegal recognition of Somaliland. The Somali government emphasizes that Hargeisa and Somaliland are an inseparable part of our nation,” a Foreign Ministry spokesman said. He added that Somalia reserves the right to take diplomatic, political, and legal measures to defend its sovereignty.
PRESS STATEMENT: Somalia condemns in the strongest terms Israel’s purported accreditation of an ambassador in Hargeisa and the laying of a cornerstone for a so-called embassy on Somali territory. These actions are null and void. The unity of the Somali nation is not negotiable. https://t.co/uN1RIzYZg3
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs 🇸🇴 (@MOFASomalia) November 3, 2026
The Somali statement came after Israel’s Foreign Ministry announced in recent days that Israeli Ambassador Michael Lotem officially assumed his post after presenting his credentials to Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi. Following the ceremony, a cornerstone was laid for the new Israeli embassy in Hargeisa.
Mutual Recognition Between Israel and Somaliland
The exchange of ambassadors was sealed last December when both countries recognized each other, after Israel became the first UN member state to recognize the region’s independence. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who visited Hargeisa last January, said Israel is determined to strengthen ties between the countries.
1+Following Israeli recognition, Somaliland opened an embassy in Jerusalem during its president’s visit to Israel in June. Somaliland’s presidency called the move a strategic milestone for cooperation between the countries in trade, technology, medicine, security, and defense.
Additional Condemnations of Israel
In response to Israel’s appointment of an ambassador to Somaliland, the Arab League secretary-general accused Israel of exploiting Somalia’s internal divisions to expand its political and military influence near the Gulf of Aden. Somalia warned that undermining recognized international borders raises the risk of regional escalation in the Red Sea area.