Nurse to nation-builder, Somaliland’s honorary ‘first lady’ hails ‘natural’ ties with Israel
- Diana Bletter
- Mar 3
- 2 min read
Original Author: Diana Bletter
Original Publication: The Times of Israel
Date: March 2, 2026
Curated Excerpt (Fair Use)
This article profiles Edna Adan Ismail, Somaliland’s 88-year-old former foreign minister and pioneering nurse-midwife, who strongly endorses Israel’s recent recognition of the breakaway republic. Characterizing the new bilateral relationship as a "natural collaboration" driven by shared strategic interests and mutual survival, Ismail highlights the deep historical resonances between the two nations. She notes that during the 1980s, when Somali dictator Siad Barre’s regime killed over 200,000 people in Somaliland—primarily targeting the Isaaq clan—Israel was the only nation to formally condemn the atrocities.
The piece contextualizes the diplomatic breakthrough alongside growing medical and humanitarian ties. The Israeli humanitarian organization Save a Child’s Heart (SACH) has successfully treated 41 children from Somaliland, while Israeli medical professionals conduct trauma surgery training at the Edna Adan Hospital in Hargeisa. This hospital, which Ismail built on a former execution site, has delivered over 30,000 babies since its opening in 2002. Meanwhile, official state visits are accelerating, with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi recently accepting an invitation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to sign a bilateral trade agreement.
Beyond geopolitics, the report sheds light on Somaliland’s domestic challenges and milestones. Despite maintaining a stable democracy for a population of just over 6 million, the unrecognized territory struggles with a per capita GDP of only $1,500, ranking among the lowest in the world. Furthermore, Ismail continues her lifelong campaign against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). She notes that while 70% of maternity patients aged 25 to 35 at her hospital have experienced some form of FGM, the most severe form (infibulation) is declining following a religious fatwa banning the practice four years ago.
About the Publication
The Times of Israel is a Jerusalem-based online newspaper that documents developments in Israel, the Middle East, and the broader Jewish world.
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