Somalilandia opens first embassy in Jerusalem after Israeli recognition

Somalilandia, a region that has declared independence but lacks international recognition, has inaugurated its first embassy in Jerusalem. The move follows Israel's recognition of Somalilandia as an independent state in December 2025, a decision that drew significant global criticism, particularly from African nations, the Islamic world, China, and the European Union.

The newly opened embassy is located in Jerusalem, a city claimed by both Israel and the Palestinians as their capital. Israel considers the entire city, including East Jerusalem which it occupied in 1967 and annexed in 1980, as its indivisible capital. This stance is not recognized by the international community.

Currently, only a handful of countries maintain their embassies in Jerusalem. Most nations opt to base their embassies in Tel Aviv, with some operating offices or consulates in Jerusalem. The United States relocated its embassy to Jerusalem in 2018 following a declaration by then-President Donald Trump, and other countries like Argentina have expressed similar intentions.