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  "path": "/partner/israel-appoints-first-ambassador-to-somaliland",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-26T10:18:35.000Z",
  "site": "https://nukta.com",
  "textContent": "\n\n\n\nIsrael has appointed its first ambassador to Somaliland, months after formally recognizing the breakaway region in the Horn of Africa, the foreign ministry said Sunday.\n\nIn December, Israel became the first country to recognize the independence of Somaliland since it declared its autonomy from Somalia in 1991 following a civil war.\n\nMichael Lotem, currently serving as a roving economic ambassador to Africa, will be Israel's envoy to Somaliland, the ministry said.\n\nLotem previously served as ambassador to Kenya, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.\n\nHis appointment follows the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two sides in December 2025, and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar's visit to Somaliland in January this year.\n\nIn February, Somaliland announced the appointment of Mohamed Hagi as it ambassador to Israel.\n\nSomaliland enjoys a strategic position on the Gulf of Aden and has its own currency, passport and army, but has struggled to win international recognition, amid concerns in many capitals that this would provoke Somalia and encourage other separatist movements in Africa.\n\nSaar's visit to Somaliland drew condemnation from Somalia, which described it as an \"unauthorized incursion\".",
  "title": "Israel appoints first ambassador to Somaliland"
}