From Taiwan to Israel: Meet Mohamed Hagi, Somaliland’s First Ambassador in Jerusalem
From Taiwan to Jerusalem, Mohamed Hagi has emerged as the face of Somaliland’s new diplomacy, leading its first-ever embassy in Israel after the country’s historic recognition in 2025. A former representative to Taiwan, he now oversees Somaliland’s most consequential foreign mission
JERUSALEM (Somali Report) — When Dr. Mohamed Omar Haji Mohamoud presented his diplomatic credentials to Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem, it marked more than a ceremonial milestone. It was the culmination of a diplomatic journey that has made him one of the most influential architects of Somaliland’s foreign policy and the first ambassador ever appointed by Somaliland to Israel.
His appointment came after Israel formally recognized Somaliland in December 2025, becoming the first United Nations member state to do so since Somaliland claimed its sovereignty in 1991. In February 2026, Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro) appointed Hagi as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Israel, granting him full authority to represent Somaliland in its newest and most politically significant diplomatic relationship.
Based in Jerusalem, Hagi now heads Somaliland’s first embassy in Israel and has become one of the most visible faces of Somaliland’s campaign for international recognition.
The appointment is historic in several respects. Hagi is the first Somaliland ambassador to Israel to be formally accredited to the Jewish state. His arrival in Jerusalem symbolizes the transformation of a relationship that had largely remained behind closed doors into a full diplomatic partnership.
"We have built a great relationship," Hagi said during his credential ceremony with President Herzog. "It is a strategic one that will pave the way forward on many things in all domains, whether that is development, political cooperation, security cooperation, and, of course, the people-to-people relationship."
For Hagi, diplomacy is not a new field.
Before arriving in Israel, he served as Somaliland's representative to Taiwan from 2020 to 2025, becoming the first Somaliland diplomat to establish a permanent diplomatic presence in East Asia. During his tenure, Taiwan and Somaliland expanded cooperation in education, technology, public health, institutional development and economic engagement.
His success in Taipei helped build his reputation as one of Somaliland's most capable diplomats and a trusted adviser to the presidency on international affairs.
Born and raised in Hargeisa, Hagi's education was shaped by both Somaliland's turbulent history and opportunities abroad. His early schooling was disrupted by the conflict that engulfed northern Somalia in the late 1980s. After Somaliland claimed its separation from Somalia in 1991, he resumed his studies before later moving to the United Kingdom.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, a postgraduate qualification in Security Studies and a Master's degree in Politics and International Studies from the University of Warwick. He later pursued doctoral studies in Politics and International Relations at Manchester Metropolitan University, focusing on international affairs and Africa's evolving geopolitical landscape.
His academic work has frequently centered on Somaliland, Somalia, foreign aid, democracy, governance and international relations. He has published articles and policy analyses examining globalization, ethnic conflict, foreign policy and economic development across Africa and the Middle East.
Before entering diplomacy, Hagi worked with international organizations and United Nations agencies as an executive director, programme manager and senior policy adviser. He also served as a senior adviser at Somaliland's Ministry of Finance Development, helping shape strategic planning and macroeconomic reforms.
His move into foreign policy saw him become a senior political adviser at Somaliland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation before joining the president's inner circle.
Somaliland officials credit Hagi as one of the key figures who helped advance relations with both Taiwan and Israel. Israeli officials have similarly described him as a central advocate for closer ties between Jerusalem and Hargeisa.
Following his appointment, Hagi pledged to strengthen what he called a "solid, strategic and sustainable" partnership between Somaliland and Israel.
He said cooperation would focus on security, economic development, technology, diplomacy and innovation while supporting regional stability and prosperity.
His appointment comes as both governments move to deepen relations. Israel has appointed its own ambassador to Somaliland, while cooperation has already begun in areas including water management, development assistance and technical training.
For Somaliland, the appointment represents another step in its long campaign for international recognition. For Hagi, it places him at the center of one of the most consequential diplomatic initiatives in Somaliland's modern history.
As Somaliland seeks to expand its global presence, few figures embody that ambition more than the academic-turned-diplomat now representing the territory in Jerusalem.
About the Author
Mohamed Farah is a senior editor at Somali Report, based in London, covering geopolitics, trade, business, and security across the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.