00:00Israel's first ambassador to Somaliland presented his credential to President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi No. Nassiro in Hageisa.
00:08The ceremony also marked the laying of the cornerstone for an Israeli embassy.
00:13Israel recognized Somaliland in December 2025, becoming the first United Nations member state to do so.
00:20Somaliland declared independent from Somalia in 1991, but Mogadishu continues to claim the territory, which has not been recognized by
00:29any other UN member state.
00:30Abdirahman called the occasion historic, while Ambassador Michael Lottem said the recognition acknowledged what Somaliland had built over 35 years.
00:40The relationship has drawn criticism from Somalia, the Arab League, the African Union and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
00:47Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamed accused Israel of seeking access to the Red Sea and alleged it wanted a naval
00:55base in Somaliland.
00:56Somaliland officials have indicated openness to hosting an Israeli military base, though the Somaliland authorities recently said no talks had
01:05taken place.
