Jerusalem, 15 April, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Appointments Committee for the Appointment of Heads of Missions Abroad of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, decided today (Wednesday) to appoint Israel’s first ambassador to Somaliland: Mr. Michael Lotem, who currently serves as the Economic Mobile Ambassador to the African continent, and who previously served as the Israeli Ambassador to Kenya, as the Israeli Ambassador to Azerbaijan, and as the Israeli Ambassador to Kazakhstan.
Israel is the only nation to have full diplomatic relations with the Republic of Somaliland, as opposed to de facto recognition of the country’s independence, which it declared in 1991.
In the first phase, Lotem will be the non-resident ambassador to Somaliland.
The appointment of the first Israeli Ambassador to Somaliland follows the establishment of relations between the two countries in December 2025, and the historic visit of Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to Somaliland in January of this year.
In February, Somaliland announced the appointment of Dr. Mohamed Hagai as the first Somaliland Ambassador to Israel.
Also, Mr. Yahel Vilan, who previously served as Israel’s Ambassador to Kenya and Israel’s Ambassador to Serbia, was appointed Israel’s Ambassador to Singapore and East Timor.
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar will submit the appointments for approval by the Ministerial Committee for Appointments in the Foreign Service and the Cabinet Plenary.