Israel Appoints Its First Ambassador to Somaliland

SadaNews - The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced the appointment of Israel's first ambassador to Somaliland, following months of its official recognition of the separatist region in the Horn of Africa.

The ministry stated that Michael Loftim, who currently serves as an economic envoy in Africa, will be Israel's envoy to Somaliland.

Loftim previously served as Israel's ambassador to Kenya, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan. His appointment comes after diplomatic relations were established between the two sides in December 2025, and following the visit of Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar to Somaliland last January.

Sa'ar's visit to Somaliland drew condemnation from Somalia, which described it as an "unauthorized incursion".

Mogadishu previously expressed its "strong condemnation" of Tel Aviv's announcement of its intention to appoint an ambassador to Somaliland, stating that appointing a diplomatic representative in the northwestern region of Somalia "constitutes a violation of its territorial integrity and sovereignty."

It emphasized in a statement that this action contradicts international law principles, including the United Nations Charter and the foundational principles of the African Union, the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, stressing that Somalia is a "sovereign and indivisible state."

In late December, Israel became the first country to recognize Somaliland since the region unilaterally declared independence from Somalia in 1991 after the civil war. Last February, Somaliland announced the appointment of Mohamed Haji as its ambassador to Israel.

Somaliland holds a strategic position by the Gulf of Aden, has its own currency, passport, and military, but faces difficulties in obtaining international recognition, amid fears of provoking Somalia and encouraging other separatist movements in Africa.