Six months after Israel became the first country to recognize Somaliland's independence, the breakaway East African state has now taken the next formal step: opening an embassy in Jerusalem.
The timing marks a significant moment for Somaliland, a self-declared republic that has spent decades seeking international legitimacy without success from the broader global community. Israel's recognition was a breakthrough, and this embassy opening translates that diplomatic win into something physical and permanent.
For now, the two governments are building something that most of the world has yet to acknowledge. Whether other countries follow Israel's lead remains the question worth watching.
Originally published by BBC Africa.