Africa Monitoring Desk Islamabad by Editor Tazeen Akhtar
Israel has appointed Michael Lotem as its first-ever non-resident ambassador to Somaliland, as announced by the Israeli Foreign Ministry in April 2026. This appointment follows Israel’s recognition of the self-declared state in December 2025. Lotem previously served as Israel’s ambassador to Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, and the Seychelles, and was a non-resident economic ambassador to Africa. Somaliland has appointed Mohamed Omar Haji Mohamoud as its first representative to Israel.
This is a game changing development for Israel that can benefit USA as well and a lot because Somaliland is at the center place of the Strait of Mandeb at Red Sea connecting Mediterranean through Suiz Canal to Red Sea and then Arabian Sea. This geography makes it more strategic than Hormuz and than any other strait in the world including Malacca and Panama.
Iran has an upperhand here through her allies the Houthis of Yemen. The Houthis have responded strongly against Israel and US during all invasions and escalations by the two countries on Gaza and Iran in the near past. Israel and US are strengthening their position here facilitating the break up of Somaliland from mainland Somalia and now supporting her to establish a full fledged state with a strong military.
China has presence at Djibouti where the first military base was set up out of mainland many years ago. But China has not reacted in a way, she should have and she has the capability for.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Support Base in Djibouti is China’s first and only official overseas military installation, located strategically near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. Officially termed a “support facility” or “logistics facility” by Beijing, it serves to safeguard Chinese maritime interests, support anti-piracy missions, and facilitate peacekeeping and humanitarian operations in Africa and West Asia.
Somalia is a poor country at a very central location. Unfortunately , Somalia failed to tackle this challenge locally and mustering the support internationally through her diplomatic corp including one in Pakistan. The Ambassador of Somalia in Islamabad is not available for any discussion on even bilateral relations , let alone the strategic affairs of his own region.
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The appointment of Ambassadors by Israel and Somaliland marks a significant shift in the Horn of Africa, drew immediate criticism from Somalia and a coalition of other countries (including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt) who view the move as a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty. Major international bodies, including the United Nations Security Council, the African Union, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), have reaffirmed their support for Somalia’s territorial unity.
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Algeria, Bangladesh,Egypt, Indonesia, Kuwait,Libya, Pakistan,Palestine, Somalia, Sudan,Saudi Arabia and Türkiye expressed their strongest condemnation of Israel’s announcement of the appointment of a diplomatic representative to the so-called “Somaliland”, which is considered a flagrant violation of the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
The Ministers in a joint statement, reaffirmed their unequivocal rejection of all unilateral measures that undermine the unity of states or infringe upon their sovereignty. They further underscored their firm and unwavering support for the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Somalia, as well as for its legitimate state institutions, being the sole representative of the will of the Somali people.
The Ministers further emphasised that such actions constitute a blatant violation of the principles of international law, the United Nation’s Charter, and the Constitutive Act of the African Union, and sets a dangerous precedent that risks undermining stability in the Horn of Africa, which reflects negatively on regional peace and security as a whole.
