In brief
Somaliland’s new embassy in Jerusalem reflects Israel’s growing support for the self‑governing territory, following recognition in December. President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi’s visit to Israel saw the embassy inaugurated in a technology park in West Jerusalem, a move praised by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The decision has attracted criticism from Somalia, which claims the region is part of its sovereign territory, and from Palestinian authorities, who see the embassy as a violation of international law. Meanwhile, several other nations have also opened diplomatic missions in Jerusalem following the US embassy shift in 2018, raising questions about the city’s disputed status. The launch highlights the strategic and political ties being formed between Somaliland and Israel, while adding a new layer to the complex dynamics surrounding Jerusalem.
Somaliland Opens Embassy in Jerusalem After Israel Recognises Independence
In a move that has drawn praise and criticism from different quarters, the unrecognised state of Somaliland has opened a diplomatic mission in West Jerusalem, six months after Israel became the first country to recognise the region’s independence.
The embassy’s opening took place during President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi’s official visit to Israel. It was situated in a technology park on Jerusalem’s West side, a location chosen by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who highlighted the “deep spiritual bond” between the peoples.
Somaliland has governed itself since the collapse of the Somali central state in 1991, holding its own elections, issuing its own currency and maintaining a relatively stable security environment compared with the south of the country.
Somalia, which claims Somaliland as part of its sovereign territory, has called the move a violation of its sovereignty. The Somali foreign ministry urged international partners to uphold international law and condemn activities that undermine the unity of the Somali state.
Palestine, whose diplomatic mission has condemned the embassy as a violation of the “occupied” status of Jerusalem, has also protested the decision, citing the city’s status as part of an ongoing conflict and the need for a negotiated solution.
Israel’s recognition of Somaliland in December sparked several international responses. China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the African Union criticised the declaration. Yet the relationship between the two entities has strengthened, as Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Saar visited Hargeisa earlier this year and has shown interest in Somaliland’s natural resources, including rare‑earth minerals and oil.
Jerusalem’s contested status continues to shape diplomatic choices. Since the US embassy moved to the city in 2018, multiple countries—including the UK, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay and Fiji—have relocated their embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.Israel regards the entire city as its “eternal and undivided” capital, a view that has been widely opposed internationally.
The new embassy underscores a growing strategic partnership between Israel and Somaliland, offering Israel a stable ally in a volatile region, while Somaliland seeks international validation and access to investment in its resources.
