Israel has formally accepted the appointment of Somaliland’s first ambassador to Israel, Mohamed Hagi, according to a letter sent by the Foreign Ministry to the office of Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi.
Dr. Mohamed Hagi, currently an adviser to Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro), was described by Israel as having played an active role in advancing bilateral relations in 2025. He has been appointed as Somaliland’s full and plenipotentiary ambassador to Israel following Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region.
Israel said it will appoint an ambassador to the African country soon, says the ministry.
In an official statement, the Somaliland Foreign Affairs ministry said the move follows the formal establishment of diplomatic relations on December 26, 2025, and builds on agreements reached during Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar’s visit to Somaliland last month.
Israel’s international development agency MASHAV is holding a course for officials from Somaliland’s Water Authority in Israel this week. The program is aimed at supporting the construction, development and planning of Somaliland’s water sector while enhancing professional collaboration.
The announcement comes amid reports that President Irro is expected to make an official visit to Israel at the end of March, according to Israeli media. If confirmed, it would mark the first public visit by a Somaliland president to Israel, although sources cited by The Jerusalem Post indicated that Cirro had previously traveled to Israel discreetly during earlier diplomatic discussions.
Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has not received broad international recognition. Israel became the first country to formally recognize it in December 2025, a move strongly rejected by Somalia’s federal government, which has described the recognition as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Hargeisa has signaled interest in expanding cooperation with Israel in areas including technology, agriculture, innovation, water management and regional security, as it intensifies diplomatic efforts to secure additional international recognition.
