Israel's New Diplomatic Move: Recognizing Somaliland and Appointing an Ambassador
On April 17, Israel appointed Michael Lotum as its first ambassador to Somaliland. On December 26, 2025, Israel formally recognized the Republic of Somaliland as an independent state, a move that has drawn widespread condemnation from the international community.
Somaliland (Republic of Somaliland) is a de facto independent political entity located in the Horn of Africa, in northwestern Somalia. It covers an area of approximately 176,000 square kilometers and has a population of 4.5 million, predominantly composed of the Isaaq ethnic group. During the colonial era, it became a British protectorate (British Somaliland) in 1887. It gained independence on June 26, 1960, and merged with southern Italian Somaliland five days later to form the Somali Republic. After the collapse of the central government of Somalia in 1991, Somaliland declared independence and established a republic. Despite having been de facto independent for over three decades, it remains unrecognized by any United Nations member state except Israel. The international community (excluding Israel) generally regards it as an autonomous region of Somalia.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862756114506752/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.