Peloni: The rising relationship with Somaliland is a formidable achievement. It is troubling that Trump refused to support Israeli recognition of Somaliland.
| Published: June 16, 2026
Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi inaugurates his country’s embassy in Jerusalem, with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, June 15, 2026. (Photo: Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi officially inaugurated his country’s embassy in Jerusalem on Monday, marking another milestone in the rapidly developing relationship between Israel and the self-declared East African republic.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar attended the opening ceremony at the embassy, located in Jerusalem’s Har Hotzvim hi-tech park, and hailed the growing ties between Israel and the Muslim-majority territory.
“I will always be proud of the privilege I had to write, with you and your people, the first pages in the story of the Israel-Somaliland relationship. I am certain this partnership will continue to grow stronger for the benefit of both our nations,” Sa’ar stated.
Sa’ar also thanked Abdillahi for the “historic” decision to locate Somaliland’s embassy in Jerusalem rather than Tel Aviv.
He added that “there are indeed challenges in building the relationship between Israel and Somaliland,” likely referring to international and specifically Muslim opposition to Jerusalem’s recognition of Somaliland.
President of the Republic of Somaliland @Abdirahmanirro. officially cut the ribbon at the opening of Somaliland's first-ever embassy in Jerusalem — a historic and long-awaited moment the people of Somaliland have waited more than 35 years to witness. pic.twitter.com/TBt99tz6Ss
— MFA Somaliland (@somalilandmfa) June 15, 2026
In December 2025, Israel became the first country to officially recognize Somaliland’s independence from Somalia, paving the way for full diplomatic relations between the two sides.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Abdillahi spoke by phone following the announcement. In an official statement, the Israeli prime minister’s office “announced today the official recognition of the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state.”
In April, 16 Arab and Muslim countries condemned Israel’s appointment of an ambassador to Somaliland.
“Unfortunately, there are many trying to undermine [bilateral ties]. They will not be successful,” Sa’ar emphasized.
Somaliland’s embassy is the eighth top-level diplomatic mission in Jerusalem. The United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, and Fiji also maintain embassies in the city.
Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia have opened diplomatic branches in Jerusalem while keeping their main embassies in Tel Aviv.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog welcomed Abdillahi during the first official visit by a Somaliland president to Israel.
“Mr. President, Michal and I are delighted to welcome you all here for the first state visit of the President of Somaliland to the State of Israel,” Herzog said.
Abdillahi explained why he chose Israel as the destination for his first official state visit as Somaliland’s president.
“Israel has taken part in a moment that will be remembered in the diplomatic history of our nation, and we do not take that gesture lightly,” Abdillahi stated.
“Somaliland has been talking, has been reaching out to the world leaders for the last 35 years,” he recalled.
“They were asking only one question: to see us. Only one country desired to see us and recognize Somaliland, and that’s the government of Israel and its people,” the Somaliland president added.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991. Aside from Israel, no other country has formally recognized Somaliland as a sovereign state.
Herzog welcomed the growing relationship but stressed that it must evolve “from declarations to people-to-people cooperation in a range of fields – and we had a very interesting discussion on that – of so many topics of common interest, and we both also face strategic challenges, which are important to both nations.”
“We both face the threat of radical extremism,” Herzog assessed. “We both seek security and stability in the region and in the Horn of Africa. We both see the importance of protecting maritime freedom,” he added.
In February, Somaliland’s first delegation visited Israel with the stated goal of strengthening diplomatic ties and exploring partnerships with the Jewish state’s advanced technology sector.
Somaliland, which is largely a semi-arid desert, has expressed strong interest in Israeli water technologies and other technological solutions.
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