– Jerusalem, Israel
Somaliland officially opened its first embassy in Jerusalem on June 15, 2026. This milestone comes six months after Israel became the first country to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent state in December 2025.
The embassy is located in the Har Hotzvim Technology Park in West Jerusalem and was inaugurated by Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar during the president’s historic state visit.
Somaliland has functioned as a stable, self-governing democracy since declaring its independence from Somalia in 1991.
President Abdullahi praised Israel for being the first nation to recognize Somaliland after 35 years of diplomatic engagement. The Israeli leaders highlighted shared interests in security, technology, and regional stability, and both sides expressed their hope for expanding cooperation.
This move has sparked strong opposition from Somalia, which considers Somaliland its territory and has condemned the opening of the embassy as a violation of its sovereignty. The African Union and several other nations have also criticized the initiative.
Despite the backlash, the embassy represents Somaliland's most significant diplomatic advance to date and is expected to strengthen bilateral relations in trade, security, and technology.