Somaliland to open embassy in Jerusalem, Israel in Hargeisa: Envoy | Story

This has happened a few months after Israel officially recognized the independence of the breakaway region of Somalia.

Somaliland will open its embassy in Jerusalem and Israel will establish its representative in Hargeisa “soon”, according to Mohamed Hagi, the Somali breakaway region’s ambassador to Israel.

The development, which comes months after Israel recognized Somaliland’s independence, shows “the growing friendship, mutual respect, and cooperation between our two peoples,” Hagi said in a statement on X Tuesday.

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Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar welcomed the announcement, calling it an “important step” in strengthening relations between the two countries. “We will work together to implement this idea as soon as possible,” he said on X.

In December last year, Israel became the first country in the world recognize Somalilandending more than 30 years of international isolation.

The decision has come great criticism from the UN Security Council, the African Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the European Union.

Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991, but has failed to be recognized by any member state of the United Nations. The region covers the northwestern part of the former British Protectorate of northern Somalia.

Somalia has never recognized the independence of Somaliland.

Saar he went Hargeisa in January, and Somaliland later sent a delegation from the Ministry of Water to Israel for training on water management.

Hagi, also an adviser to the president, was instrumental in improving awareness.

Somaliland will be the eighth embassy in Jerusalem, following the US, Guatemala, Kosovo, Honduras, Paraguay, Papua New Guinea and Fiji.

The site is controversial because the city of Jerusalem remains at the center of the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel claims the ancient city as its capital, while the Palestinian Authority (PA) insists that East Jerusalem should be the capital of the Palestinian state.

Israel first occupied East Jerusalem in the 1967 war, before annexing it in 1980 in a move rejected by the UNSC.

Because of the conflict, most of the 96 current delegations to Israel have their ambassadors in the Tel Aviv area to avoid interfering with the peace talks.

Much to the dismay of Palestinian interests and hopes for peace, US President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel during his first term in 2017.

The announcement sparked violent protests across the Palestinian Authority, as well as in other countries, including Malaysia and India.

The US moved its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May 2018 not changed led by President Joe Biden, and Washington continues to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel today.

Other countries that followed the US move were Guatemala in 2018, Kosovo and Honduras in 2021, Paraguay in 2018 (returned its embassy to Tel Aviv after a few months, then moved to Jerusalem in 2024), Papua New Guinea in 2023, and Fiji in 2025.

Last year, Argentine President Javier Milei he announced his intention to move the Argentine embassy to Jerusalem.