Israel’s first ambassador to Somaliland presents credentials in Hargeisa

Israel’s first ambassador to Somaliland has presented his credentials to the breakaway territory’s president, who formally accepted them at a ceremony in Hargeisa, where officials also laid the cornerstone for an Israeli embassy. Israel’s Foreign Ministry announced the ceremonies on Sunday, saying they were held last week. The move puts into practice an agreement reached on December 26, 2025, when Israel became the first United Nations member state to recognise Somaliland, It declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but remains claimed by Mogadishu.