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Israel-Somaliland relations

Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi at the MEAD conference on September 10, 2026. (Itzik Belenitzki)
September 11, 2026, 12:10 am
Somaliland president says country could contribute troops to Gaza peacekeeping force
Abdirahman Abdullahi tells ToI he could offer 2,000 soldiers, but US hasn’t asked, as move would likely anger Gaza mediating countries who oppose African state’s split from Somalia
By Jacob Magid
Defense Minister Israel Katz (right) meets with visiting Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, June 17, 2026. (Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry)
June 17, 2026, 5:05 pm
Katz touts years-long ‘under the radar’ ties in meeting with Somaliland president
Defense minister says two nations seeking to take security ties to ‘new heights’; his Somaliland counterpart dispels ‘rumors’ Israel in talks to build military base in country
By Emanuel Fabian and Reuters
Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, left, and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar open Somaliland's embassy in Jerusalem, June 15, 2026. (Shlomi Amsalem/GPO)
June 15, 2026, 7:55 pm
Visiting Somaliland president opens embassy in Jerusalem
Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullah launches site in capital’s Har Hotzvim hi-tech park; foreign minister reveals guest was in Israel 2 months before recognizing it
By Lazar Berman
President Isaac Herzog (right) with Somaliland’s first ambassador to Israel, Dr. Mohamed Hagi, during a ceremony at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, May 18, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
May 18, 2026, 1:33 pm
First Somaliland ambassador in history presents credentials to Herzog
Dr. Mohamed Hagi, adviser to Somaliland’s president and architect of ties with Israel, to serve as top envoy; Herzog hails ‘important new partnership’ that will benefit region
By Lazar Berman
Then-Israeli ambassador to Kenya Michael Lotem, right, marks Israel's annual Independence Day, May 2023. (Israel Foreign Ministry)
April 26, 2026, 4:19 pm
Israel appoints first ambassador to Somaliland after recognition of breakaway region
Michael Lotem, currently roving economic envoy to Africa, will take up position after Israel last year became first country to recognize territory’s independence from Somalia
By AFP and ToI Staff
Edna Adan Ismail is interviewed in Hargeisa, Somaliland on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. (AP/Brian Inganga)
March 2, 2026, 10:43 pm
Nurse to nation-builder, Somaliland’s honorary ‘first lady’ hails ‘natural’ ties with Israel
Edna Adan Ismail, 88, says she was working on forging diplomatic relations with Jerusalem as foreign minister two decades ago, recognizing countries’ shared interests
By Diana Bletter
President Isaac Herzog (left) meets with Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie in Addis Ababa on February 25, 2026. (Haim Zach/GPO)
February 25, 2026, 7:40 pm
Visiting Ethiopia, Herzog touts Israel’s ‘strong’ relationships across Africa
Amid push from Jerusalem to build ties on continent, president meets top officials, Jewish leaders in Addis Ababa; Israel accepts appointment of Somaliland’s first ambassador
By Lazar Berman
The flag of Somaliland seen at a fruit farm between the capital city of Hargeisa and Port city of Berbera, Somaliland, on February 19, 2026. (Tony KARUMBA / AFP)
February 22, 2026, 2:41 pm
Seeking recognition, Somaliland minister says US can access its minerals, military bases
Khadar Hussein Abdi suggests granting ‘exclusive’ mineral rights to Washington, is ‘open to offer’ military sites; won’t rule out possibility of Israeli military presence
By AFP and ToI Staff
People walk by the flags of Israel and Somaliland flying alongside each other at the entrance to a fruit farm between the capital city of Hargeisa and Port city of Berbera along the highway connecting the two as Muslims commemorate the holy month of Ramadan in Somaliland on February 19, 2026. (Tony KARUMBA / AFP)
February 20, 2026, 5:24 pm
After Israeli recognition, Somaliland marks ‘1st Ramadan when the world knows us’
‘I love Israel so much,’ says young woman near memorial for Mogadishu’s destruction of Hargeisa; local official: We feel for Palestinians, but it’s Somalia that wants to kill us
By AFP
Somaliland President Abdirahman Abdullahi Mohamed (right) posing for a photograph with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar at the Presidential Palace in Hargeisa, Somaliland, January 6, 2026. (Somaliland Presidential Office / AFP)
February 4, 2026, 8:45 am
Somaliland president says he expects to soon visit Israel, sign trade agreement
Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi says Netanyahu invited him; says he’ll offer mineral deposits in exchange for access to Israeli technology: ‘The sky is the limit’
By Steven Scheer
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, left, speaks alongside Somaliland's President Abdirahman Abdullahi Mohamed during a press conference at the Presidential Palace in Hargeisa, the capital of the breakaway East African region, on January 6, 2026. (Somaliland Presidential Office via AFP)
January 14, 2026, 10:30 am
Israel’s recognition of Somaliland brings danger and opportunity to a rough region
‘It is a mutually beneficial friendship,’ says breakaway region’s FM, though al-Shabab threats, Houthi risks and Middle East power games make the new ties with Jerusalem precarious
By SAM METZ and Omar Faruk
People protest against Israel’s recognition of the Republic of Somaliland in Mogadishu, Somalia, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP/Farah Abdi Warsameh)
January 9, 2026, 12:46 pm
Hundreds protest Israeli recognition of Somaliland in Mogadishu
Demonstrators wave Somali flags and chant patriotic songs at third such event since Jerusalem became first UN state to recognize independent Somaliland
By Omar Faruk
Residents wave Somaliland flags as they gather to celebrate Israel's recognition of Somaliland in downtown Hargeisa, December 26, 2025. (Farhan Aleli/AFP)
January 8, 2026, 7:07 pm
Somaliland official confirms talks with Israel on hosting a military base
Despite apparent reversal on base, Somaliland official and Israeli FM Sa’ar stress that agreement to establish diplomatic ties didn’t include resettlement of Gazans
By ToI Staff and Lazar Berman
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar's visits Somaliland's capital, Hargeisa, January 6, 2026. (Shlomi Amsalem/GPO)
January 6, 2026, 3:20 pm
Sa’ar visits Somaliland to meet with president for 1st time since Israeli recognition
Alongside Somaliland’s president, foreign minister says Israel ‘truly honored’ to be first to recognize country, hopes others will follow; both reiterate pledge to open embassies
By Lazar Berman and Agencies
Residents wave Somaliland flags as they gather to celebrate Israel’s announcement recognizing Somaliland’s statehood in downtown Hargeisa, December 26, 2025. (FARHAN ALELI / AFP)
January 1, 2026, 5:29 pm
Somaliland denies it agreed to accept Gaza refugees or host Israeli military bases
Hargeisa says accusation by Somalia’s president aims to undermine its diplomatic progress, insists relations with Israel conducted with respect for international law
By ToI Staff
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