Somaliland president expected to visit Qatar for talks revival – sources

HARGEISA,  Somalia – Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro) is expected to travel to Doha within hours following an official invitation from the Qatari government, sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

The visit is part of Qatar’s renewed diplomatic efforts to revive stalled talks between Somaliland and Somalia’s Federal Government, which collapsed on January 1, 2024.

Talks broke down after then-Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi signed a controversial deal with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, granting Ethiopia access to the Red Sea through Somali territory. Somalia’s federal government declared the agreement “null and void.”

President Irro’s visit comes just days after Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, in a speech marking the June 26 independence anniversary, called on Somaliland to return to the negotiating table to discuss national unity.

Somalia’s federal government has not issued a formal response to Irro’s upcoming visit or confirmed whether it will send a delegation to Doha, where Qatar is expected to mediate between the two sides.

The Qatari Foreign Ministry has not commented publicly on the reported invitation.

GAROWE ONLINE