TEL AVIV – Israel has appointed its first-ever ambassador to Somaliland, officials confirmed Thursday, marking a significant diplomatic escalation following the Israeli government’s recent decision to recognize the breakaway region’s independence.
Michael Lotem, a veteran diplomat, becomes the first person to hold the post. Lotem previously served as Israel’s ambassador to Kenya, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan, and most recently held the position of economic envoy for Africa.
Despite the landmark appointment, Israeli officials clarified that Lotem will serve as a non-resident ambassador and will not be permanently based in the Somaliland capital, Hargeisa.
The move follows a controversial announcement on December 26, 2025, by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who formally extended recognition to Somaliland as a “sovereign state.”
The recognition and subsequent diplomatic appointment have sparked a wave of condemnation from the Federal Government of Somalia in Mogadishu, which views Somaliland as part of its territory.
International observers have warned that the move could further destabilize the fragile Horn of Africa region, which is already grappling with heightened maritime and territorial tensions.
Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has long sought international recognition but remains unrecognized by the United Nations and the vast majority of the international community.
