Somaliland recognises Jerusalem as capital of Israel, will open embassy

“Somaliland recognises Jerusalem as capital of Israel, will open embassy Submitted by Sean Mathews on Tue, 05/19/2026 - 19:15 Somaliland and Israel are opening embassies, in a sign of Israel's deepening ties with the breakaway region in the Horn of Africa Special forces prepare for the 35th Independence Day celebrations near the presidential palace in Hargeisa's Shap neighbourhood in Somaliland, on 18 May 12026 (Kang-Chun Cheng/AFP) Off Somaliland is opening an embassy in Jerusalem, and Israel will reciprocate by opening one in the breakaway region of Somalia, in the latest sign that the two are deepening their ties. “I am pleased to announce that the Republic of Somaliland’s embassy will be located in Jerusalem - the embassy will be opened soon,” Mohamed Hagi, Somaliland’s ambassador to Israel, said on Tuesday. “Israel will also establish its embassy in Hargeisa, reflecting growing friendship, mutual respect, and strategic cooperation between our two peoples,” he added, referring to the capital of the internationally unrecognised territory. Somaliland is an autonomous region in northern Somalia that declared independence in 1991. Israel became the first United Nations member to recognise Somaliland as an independent state in December 2025. The move elicited a particularly strong response from Arab and Muslim states that are wary of Israel gaining a foothold in the strategic Horn of Africa through an unrecognised state. East Jerusalem is considered occupied under international law. Israel wrested control of the city from Jordan in the 1967 war. The only Muslim-majority state with an embassy in Jerusalem is Kosovo, which declared its independence from Serbia in 2008. The US recognises Kosovo, but China and Russia do not. A strategic node In return for Israeli recognition, Somaliland said it would sign up to the Abraham Accords, the US-led agreements in which Morocco , Bahrain , and the UAE established full diplomatic ties with Israel in 2020 and 2021. Sudan’s agreement to normalise remains unratified amid its civil war . Red Sea crisis: What do Israel and the UAE want from Somaliland? Read More » Somaliland is a strategic node in a wider struggle for influence playing out in the region. The unrecognised state is 30km south of the Bab el-Mandab Strait, the narrow waterway that connects the Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea. Since Israel’s recognition, Somaliland officials have discussed building an Israeli military base in the territory, despite previous denials of such a plan from Hargeisa’s foreign ministry. A foothold in Somaliland would put Israel a short distance away from Yemen’s Houthis, who targeted shipping in the Red Sea, in what they said was retaliation for Israel’s genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza. Israel's support for the secessionist state comes as it deepens already close ties to the UAE , which also supports Somaliland. Israel sent Iron Dome air defence batteries to the UAE amid Iranian missile and drone attacks. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said he visited the Gulf state during the war. Middle East Eye reported on Monday that the UAE and Israel have agreed to a fund for joint defence acquisitions. The UAE refused to join other Gulf states, notably Saudi Arabia and Qatar, in condemning Israel’s recognition of Somaliland. The UAE maintains a military base at the Somaliland port of Berbera. Somalia News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

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