Israeli Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday that Israel has appointed its first ambassador to Somaliland, according to Arab News.
The appointment came months after formally recognizing the self-declared republic in the Horn of Africa.
In December, Israel formally recognized Somaliland as a sovereign state, marking the first nation to sign a joint declaration with Somaliland’s President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi.
The Foreign Ministry announced that Michael Lotem, who currently serves as Israel’s roving economic ambassador to Africa, has been appointed as the country’s envoy to Somaliland.
He previously served as ambassador to Kenya, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.
Somaliland became part of the Somali Republic in 1960, but then broke away in 1991, declaring independence and establishing a de facto state.
Despite having informal diplomatic ties with multiple nations, Somaliland’s sovereignty had never been recognized by any permanent UN member state until Friday, December 26.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the recognition as a significant step towards “expanding our partnership. We intend to work together with you on economic fields, on agriculture, and the fields of social development.”
The announcement of recognition drew strong condemnations and sparked several concerns regionally and internationally.
In January, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar visited Somalia’s breakaway region Somaliland, sparking regional and international denouncement, describing it as an “unauthorized incursion.”
Consequently, Somaliland announced the appointment of Mohamed Hagi as its ambassador to Israel in February.
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