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The breakaway region of Somaliland is set to establish an embassy in Jerusalem in the near future, according to its ambassador, Mohamed Hagi.
This diplomatic milestone comes after Israel became the first nation to officially recognise the self-declared republic’s independence.
Ambassador Hagi shared on X that, in a reciprocal arrangement, Israel is also expected to open its own embassy in Somaliland’s capital city, Hargeisa.
I am pleased to announce that the Republic of Somaliland’s Embassy will be located in Jerusalem – the Embassy will be opened soon, while Israel will also establish its Embassy in Hargeisa, reflecting growing friendship, mutual respect, and strategic cooperation between our two…
— Dr Mohamed Hagi (@AmbMohamedHagi) May 19, 2026
Israel initially extended formal recognition to the sovereign state in December, a significant geopolitical shift that the Somali government quickly condemned as a deliberate assault on its national sovereignty.
Somaliland, a former British protectorate, has operated with effective autonomy, relative peace, and stability since 1991 following the outbreak of civil war in Somalia.
Despite its decades-long self-governance, the region had never received formal recognition from any country until Israel’s December declaration, largely due to Somalia’s successful international lobbying efforts to block such diplomatic moves.
Somaliland’s leaders hope the move will spark a domino effect with other countries following suit, boosting its diplomatic clout on the world stage and opening the door to global financial markets.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar praised the upcoming opening of the Jerusalem mission as a crucial step in cementing bilateral ties, noting it will mark the eighth embassy to be established in the city.
The vast majority of countries maintain their diplomatic missions in Tel Aviv due to the contested status of Jerusalem.
While Israel claims the entire city as its capital, the United Nations and most international actors view East Jerusalem as occupied territory, which Palestinians envision as the capital of their future state.
Somaliland joins a small group of nations, including the United States, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea, that have chosen to position their embassies in Jerusalem.
