Somaliland Leader departs for UAE, Seeks Deeper Ties as Regional Stakes Rise

HARGEISA, Somalia — Somalia's northwestern breakaway region of Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, known as Cirro, departed for the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, leading a high-level delegation that includes cabinet ministers and senior advisers, his office said.

The trip follows a formal invitation from the UAE government, with Cirro expected to attend a conference focused on development and intergovernmental cooperation. Officials said he is also scheduled to hold meetings in Abu Dhabi with senior Emirati leaders to discuss strengthening bilateral relations.

Talks are expected to center on development projects and investment, areas where the UAE has played a significant role in Somaliland’s economy. Emirati logistics firm DP World has invested about $442 million in the expansion and management of the Berbera port, a cornerstone of Somaliland’s trade ambitions.

Sources familiar with the itinerary said Cirro may travel on to Israel after the UAE visit, though no official confirmation was immediately provided.

The visit comes at a sensitive diplomatic moment for the self-declared republic, which lacks international recognition but has sought to deepen ties with regional and international partners. Somaliland announced in December 2025 that it had received recognition from Israel, a move that has drawn regional attention.

Israel has expressed interest in expanding cooperation with Somaliland, including discussions that have circulated publicly about security and logistics cooperation centered on the port city of Berbera. Somaliland authorities have not publicly confirmed details of any such plans.

Somaliland has governed itself since breaking away from Somalia in 1991, maintaining relative stability compared with much of the Horn of Africa, while continuing to press for international recognition.

GAROWE ONLINE