SOMALILAND — Israel appointed Michael Lotem as its first ambassador to Somaliland, advancing diplomatic ties that began with Israel's official recognition of the self-declared territory in December. Lotem previously served as Israel's ambassador to Kenya.

The recognition ended more than 30 years of diplomatic isolation for Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 following a civil war. Somalia has never recognized Somaliland's independence claim. Israel also granted diplomatic approval to Mohamed Hagi as Somaliland's first ambassador to Israel.

Israel's foreign minister, Gideon Saar, visited Hargeisa in January, and Somaliland subsequently sent a delegation from its water ministry to Israel for training in water management. In February, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi said he expected a trade deal with Israel to follow soon. Abdullahi told a joint session of Somaliland's parliament that Israel had proven itself a reliable partner, and lawmakers rose to their feet and applauded.

In March, Somaliland's minister of the presidency, Khadar Hussein Abdi, said Somaliland would pursue a strategic relationship with Israel encompassing security cooperation. Abdi did not rule out the prospect of an Israeli military base in Somaliland.

Somalia's foreign ministry condemned the ambassador appointment as a direct breach of the country's sovereignty and unity. Earlier this year, Somalia's president described ties with Israel as a gravest attack on Somalia's sovereignty and said Israel was seeking to establish a military base in Somaliland to launch attacks against Yemen. Somaliland lies across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen. Somalia's state minister for foreign affairs said Somalia did not want its territory pulled into external confrontations or used in ways that could destabilise the region.

The UN Security Council, the African Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the European Union condemned Israel's recognition of Somaliland. The Iran-backed Houthi movement, which controls northwestern Yemen, began firing missiles at Israel in late March in response to Israeli strikes on Iran. The Houthis said they would consider an Israeli presence in Somaliland a legitimate target.