The Israeli cabinet ministers unanimously approved the recent appointment of Israeli ambassador to the Republic of Somaliland, as disclosed in a statement released by the Israeli government. The cabinet, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, allowed the appointment of Ambassador Michael Lotem after Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar made the suggestion. This step is part of the process of expanding and deepening diplomatic ties between Israel and Somaliland, following Israel’s historic recognition of Somaliland in late 2025. However, it should be noted that the new ambassador will not officially reside in Somaliland. Ambassador Lotem is an experienced diplomat with extensive experience in diplomacy, having previously served as Israeli ambassador to Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Kenya. He is currently in charge of Israel’s economic affairs in the African continent. Israel became the first UN member state to officially recognize Somaliland in December 2025. Somaliland declared its secession from Somalia in 1991 and has since established diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The collaboration between Israel and Somaliland is expected to focus on areas such as security, trade, and infrastructure development.
