Somalia: Somalia Condemns Israel's Appointment of Ambassador to Hargeisa, Embassy Construction Move

What the report says

Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has condemned reports that Israel appointed an ambassador to Hargeisa and helped lay a foundation stone for what was described as an embassy in Somali territory. In the statement reported by Shabelle Media Network and distributed by AllAfrica, the ministry said the actions were taken without Somalia’s consent and amounted to a breach of sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. It said the measures were null and void and had no legal effect.

The ministry also argued that diplomatic relations and permanent missions require the approval of the sovereign state concerned, citing the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. It reaffirmed that Hargeisa and the northwestern regions remain part of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The report said Somalia viewed the move as part of a broader pattern following Israel’s recognition of Somaliland in December 2025.

According to the article, Mogadishu said that recognition had already been rejected by the African Union, IGAD, the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The ministry warned that actions encouraging fragmentation could raise security tensions in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden areas, and it called on Israel to reverse the measures. It also urged other governments and international organizations not to lend legitimacy to the reported steps.