Somaliland, a self-declared breakaway region of Somalia, has announced plans to establish an embassy in Jerusalem after Israel became the first country to formally recognise it as an independent state.
Somaliland’s ambassador, Mohamed Hagi, confirmed the development in a post on X on Tuesday, stating that reciprocal diplomatic arrangements are expected, with Israel also planning to open an embassy in Hargeisa, the region’s capital.
The recognition by Israel was first announced in December, marking a significant diplomatic shift. The move was strongly rejected by Somalia, which described it as a “deliberate attack” on its sovereignty.
Somaliland has operated with de facto autonomy since 1991, when Somalia descended into civil war. Despite maintaining relative stability and self-governance, the region has long struggled to gain international recognition.
Over the years, Somalia has actively campaigned against global recognition of Somaliland, arguing that it undermines its territorial integrity.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the planned embassy in Jerusalem would strengthen ties between the two sides, describing it as an important diplomatic development. He also noted that Somaliland’s embassy would become the eighth foreign mission in the city.
Jerusalem remains a highly contested diplomatic issue. While Israel considers the city its capital, most countries maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv due to unresolved international disputes over the city’s status. The United Nations and much of the international community regard East Jerusalem as occupied territory, with Palestinians claiming it as the capital of a future independent state.
The development is expected to further intensify geopolitical debate over recognition, sovereignty, and diplomatic alignment in the Horn of Africa and the Middle East.
