Michael Lotem presented his credentials to Somaliland's president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi 'Irro', in a step Israel says deepens the mutual recognition agreed in December 2025. Somalia's federal government rejects that recognition.
Israel's ambassador to Somaliland, Michael Lotem, has presented his credentials to Somaliland's president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known as Irro, at the presidential palace in Hargeisa, according to the Somaliland presidency and Israel's foreign ministry. The Jerusalem Post, via Yahoo News, dated the ceremony to Sunday 1 November; Horn Diplomat said Israel's foreign ministry described it as taking place "last week". A cornerstone was then laid for Israel's new embassy in Hargeisa.
"Israel is determined to develop and strengthen its relations with Somaliland," Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said in a statement. "The appointment of ambassadors, in accordance with the agreement reached when our countries established mutual recognition, is another important step in deepening the ties between us."
Priorities
According to the presidency, Irro named trade, investment, infrastructure, technology, politics and security as priorities, and pointed to Somaliland's position on the Gulf of Aden near the Red Sea shipping corridor. Lotem pledged cooperation in security and defence, trade, investment, technology, healthcare and education. Hiiraan Online noted that neither side gave details of specific projects, funding or timetables. Lotem, appointed in April, is expected initially to serve as a non-resident ambassador.
Status and objections
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has its own government, currency, security forces and elections, but it is not a UN member and Somalia's federal government regards it as part of Somalia. On 26 December 2025, Israel became the first UN member state to recognise Somaliland, in a joint declaration signed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Sa'ar and Irro. Somalia rejected the move as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the African Union, IGAD and several governments warned that it could undermine regional stability, Hiiraan Online reported. CERHA found no new statement from Mogadishu on the credentials ceremony.
Since recognition, Sa'ar visited Hargeisa in January, Somaliland opened an embassy in Jerusalem during Irro's visit to Israel in June, and Somaliland's ambassador, Mohamed Omar Hagi Mohamoud, presented credentials to President Isaac Herzog on 18 May, according to Horn Diplomat.
Somaliland's location near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has drawn growing interest from outside powers since Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping began in late 2023.
Image: Official portrait of Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro), 2024. Somaliland Presidency (Madaxtooyada JSL), public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.