Somalia Rejects Israeli Ambassador’s Accreditation in Hargeisa

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: The federal government of Somalia has rejected Israel’s accreditation of an ambassador in Hargeisa and plans to establish an embassy there, escalating a diplomatic dispute over Somaliland’s status and Somalia’s territorial integrity.

In a statement, Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the moves as violations of the country’s sovereignty, saying any diplomatic mission established in Hargeisa without the consent of the federal government was invalid.

The ministry called on Israel to reverse the measures and urged international organisations and foreign governments not to recognise or engage with arrangements that, in Mogadishu’s view, would legitimise Somaliland’s separation from Somalia. It also said the government reserved the right to pursue diplomatic, political and legal measures in response.

The dispute follows Israel’s decision in December 2025 to recognise Somaliland as an independent state, making it the first United Nations member state to do so. Israel’s ambassador, Michael Lotem, recently presented his credentials to Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi in Hargeisa, followed by a ceremony marking the laying of a cornerstone for a planned Israeli embassy.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has maintained its own administration and security institutions for more than three decades. However, Mogadishu continues to regard it as an integral part of the Somali state, a position supported by the African Union and several regional organisations.

The latest developments have drawn further criticism from the Arab League, whose secretary-general on Tuesday condemned Israel’s diplomatic steps in Hargeisa, saying they threatened Somalia’s sovereignty and could undermine stability in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The diplomatic dispute is unfolding against the backdrop of heightened strategic interest in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, key routes for international shipping. Somaliland’s location along the Gulf of Aden has added a regional dimension to the disagreement, with Somalia warning that unilateral moves could deepen tensions in an already fragile region.

Israel has presented the exchange of ambassadors as a step towards implementing the diplomatic relationship established after its recognition of Somaliland. Somalia, meanwhile, maintains that the territory cannot independently enter into diplomatic arrangements with other states.