JERUSALEM: Israeli President Isaac Herzog has officially received the credentials of Somaliland’s first ambassador to Israel, Dr. Mohamed Hagi, in a ceremony held at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem on Monday, May 18. The event coincided with Somaliland’s celebration of the 35th anniversary of its self-declared independence from Somalia.
President Herzog welcomed the appointment, describing the moment as the beginning of an “important new partnership” between the two sides. “The ambassador spoke positively about the music group performing the Somaliland national anthem in Israel for the first time,” Herzog wrote on social media. “This new cooperation between our nations will lead to future collaboration in various sectors, benefiting both peoples and the wider region.” The Israeli president characterized the diplomatic step as historic, noting that Israel was the first nation to formally receive a diplomatic representative from Somaliland.
The ceremony marked a significant milestone for Somaliland, which broke away from Somalia and declared its independence in 1991 following the collapse of Somalia’s central government. Despite maintaining its own administration, security institutions, currency, and electoral system for more than three decades, Somaliland has not gained broad international recognition as a sovereign state and remains internationally viewed as part of Somalia. Israel became the first United Nations member state to formally recognize Somaliland in December 2025, a move that drew sharp condemnation from the Federal Government of Somalia, which rejected it as a violation of its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
The timing of the ceremony, falling on Somaliland’s independence anniversary, added symbolic weight to the occasion. While the reception of credentials does not itself constitute formal recognition of Somaliland’s statehood, recognition was already extended by Israel in December 2025, the public and official nature of the ceremony represents a significant diplomatic breakthrough for Somaliland’s long-running campaign for international recognition. Somaliland authorities have welcomed the appointment of its first ambassador to Israel as a validation of their efforts to establish formal diplomatic ties with UN member states.
The development is expected to create further political sensitivity in Somalia, where the Federal Government strongly opposes any international actions perceived as undermining Somali territorial unity and sovereignty. Somalia condemned Israel’s appointment of its first ambassador to Somaliland in March 2026 as a violation of sovereignty, calling the move a “dangerous precedent.” Arab and Muslim nations, including Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, as well as the African Union and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, have also reaffirmed their support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Somaliland has dismissed criticism from Arab and Muslim countries over its engagement with Israel, arguing that it is exercising its sovereign right to establish diplomatic relations.
Regional observers will likely monitor whether the relationship between Israel and Somaliland develops into broader political, economic, or security cooperation in the future. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has vowed to resist any Israeli military presence in Somaliland, warning of potential confrontation. For now, the credential ceremony in Jerusalem represents a concrete step in the deepening ties between the two sides, even as it deepens Somalia’s opposition to the engagement.
Recommended Reading on ftlsomalia.com:
- Israel Officially Recognizes Somaliland As Sovereign State
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- Israel Names First Ambassador To Somaliland In Controversial Move
- Somalia Condemns Israel’s Appointment Of First Ambassador To Somaliland As Violation Of Sovereignty
- Somaliland Dismisses Arab-Muslim Criticism Over Israel Envoy
- President Mohamud Vows To Resist Israeli Military Presence In Somaliland
