NAIROBI, Kenya — Somaliland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known as Irro, met with representatives of international organizations and foreign missions in Nairobi during a working visit to Kenya, presenting his government’s priorities on security, development and its long-running campaign for international recognition.
The meeting was part of an effort by Somaliland’s new administration to deepen engagement with international partners while emphasizing investment and cooperation rather than dependence on foreign aid.
Mr. Irro told the representatives that peace and stability were the government’s foremost priorities. According to Somaliland’s presidency, he said more than 6,000 clan-affiliated fighters and their equipment had been peacefully incorporated into the Somaliland national forces after undergoing training.
He also said his government was seeking to address recent clashes in western areas through dialogue, reconciliation and traditional mechanisms for resolving disputes.
The president reiterated his government’s position that the dispute over Las Anod should be resolved through negotiations and a peaceful process based on reconciliation and mutual understanding. Las Anod, in the Sool region, has been at the center of a prolonged dispute involving Somaliland and the SSC-Khatumo administration, which has challenged Hargeisa’s authority in the area.
Recognition remains central
Mr. Irro also highlighted what his administration described as Israel’s recognition of Somaliland on Dec. 26, 2025, calling it a historic development.
Somaliland has sought international recognition as an independent state since declaring its separation from Somalia in 1991. The federal government in Mogadishu rejects the territory’s independence claim and considers Somaliland part of Somalia.
Mr. Irro said the Israeli recognition should be viewed as part of a broader process rather than its conclusion. He linked Somaliland’s aspirations to the development of functioning state institutions, democratic governance, security and peaceful transfers of political power.
The issue has broader regional implications because Somaliland occupies a strategically important position along the Gulf of Aden, near one of the world’s major maritime trade routes.
A development-first message
Beyond recognition, Mr. Irro used the Nairobi meeting to highlight his government’s development agenda, pointing to roads, water, electricity, health care, education and telecommunications as priorities.
He said strategic road projects were under way and that lowering electricity costs and expanding investment in renewable energy were central to efforts to stimulate economic growth.
Water security was another focus. The president called for international cooperation in surveying and developing Somaliland’s groundwater resources, particularly through technical expertise and modern technology.
The message was also directed at potential investors. Rather than approaching international partners primarily for assistance, Mr. Irro said Somaliland wanted relationships based on investment, shared interests and practical cooperation.
He urged international governments and organizations to assess Somaliland on the basis of conditions on the ground, its institutions and its development record.
The meeting reflects Somaliland’s broader diplomatic strategy of seeking greater international engagement while continuing to press its case for recognition. Its location on the Gulf of Aden has also made it an increasingly important actor in discussions over maritime security, trade and regional stability in the Horn of Africa.
Mr. Irro said future cooperation with international partners should be based on what he described as “reality, performance, mutual respect and shared interests,” with the goal of promoting peace, stability and economic development across the Horn of Africa.
