Historic First: Somaliland Flag Raised in Israel as Ambassador Presents Credentials
Addis Ababa – In an unprecedented diplomatic scene, the flag of the Republic of Somaliland was raised in Israel for the first time on Monday, as the breakaway region’s new ambassador formally presented his credentials to President Isaac Herzog.
Video released by The Press Service of Israel (TPS) shows the blue and white Somaliland flag with its green star flying prominently as the Somaliland national anthem was played at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem. The ceremony marked a significant, though controversial, step in bilateral relations between Israel and the self-declared independent nation in the Horn of Africa.
Ambassador Mohamed Hagi, dressed in formal diplomatic attire, was received by President Herzog in a ceremony that typically is reserved for envoys of fully recognized sovereign states. While Israel does not officially maintain diplomatic relations with Somalia, it has long maintained discreet ties with the breakaway region of Somaliland.
A Defining Moment in Bilateral Relations
Observers described the event as a “defining diplomatic moment” for Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not been recognized by the United Nations or the African Union.
“A defining diplomatic moment for Somaliland-Israel relations and a new chapter in Somaliland’s global engagement,” read a statement accompanying the video footage.
The ceremony suggests a deepening of covert ties that have been rumored for years. Israel has previously shown interest in Somaliland due to its strategic location along the Gulf of Aden, near crucial shipping lanes. In return, Somaliland has sought Israeli investment, technology, and political support in its quest for international recognition.
Regional Repercussions
The public nature of the event is likely to cause ripples across the Horn of Africa and the wider Arab and Muslim world. Somaliland is a predominantly Muslim territory, and public normalization with Israel remains a sensitive issue.
However, the move aligns with shifting geopolitical realities following the Abraham Accords, in which several Arab nations normalized ties with Israel. For Somaliland, the gambit is clear: secure a powerful ally to break its diplomatic isolation.
Context for Ethio Affairs Readers
For Ethiopia, Somaliland’s growing ties with Israel carry strategic weight. Addis Ababa has historically maintained a cautious position regarding Somaliland’s secessionist claim, balancing relations with the Federal Government of Somalia while negotiating access to Somaliland’s port of Berbera.
Last year, landlocked Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland to lease coastal land for a naval base and commercial port—a deal that sparked outrage in Mogadishu. Israel’s visible embrace of Somaliland could further complicate the fragile geopolitics of the region, potentially drawing new international players into the dispute over Somali territorial integrity.
Neither the Israeli government nor Somaliland’s foreign ministry has released further details on the scope of their new diplomatic relationship. However, the flag-raising in Jerusalem signals that the partnership has moved from shadow diplomacy into the public arena.
Get the full video here: https://web.facebook.com/reel/1451678762946243
Video Credit: The Press Service of Israel (TPS)
Ethio Affairs will continue to monitor this developing story and its implications for Horn of Africa diplomacy.
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