Friday May 23, 2025
Djibouti (HOL) – Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro held a high-level meeting on Thursday with the ambassadors of France, Ethiopia, and the United Kingdom to the Republic of Djibouti as part of his ongoing three-day diplomatic visit to Djibouti.
According to a statement from the Somaliland Presidency, the meeting aimed to exchange views on regional dynamics and Somaliland’s role in promoting stability and cooperation in the Horn of Africa.
President Irro highlighted Somaliland’s proactive contribution to regional security efforts, particularly in safeguarding the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, areas critical to global maritime trade. He emphasized the need for region countries to work collaboratively to ensure peace and stability.
“President Abdirahman Irro underlined the importance of the Horn of Africa region to cooperate in the security of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden,” the statement noted.
The discussions also covered economic development, trade facilitation, infrastructure investment, and the expansion of humanitarian support. President Irro encouraged enhanced cooperation between Somaliland and international partners in these sectors to boost prosperity and resilience in the region.
The Somaliland leader appreciated the ongoing diplomatic and development engagement by the UK and Ethiopia, both of which maintain formal representation in Hargeisa. He also urged France to strengthen its relationship with Somaliland by opening an embassy or representative office in the capital.
“The President of the Republic of Somaliland commended the ambassadors of these three countries for the relations and cooperation their countries have with the Republic of Somaliland… and urged the French government to open an embassy in Somaliland,” the Presidency added.
The meeting is part of a broader agenda during President Irro’s visit to Djibouti, which includes bilateral discussions with Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh and senior officials. The visit marks a potential shift in Somaliland’s foreign relations approach under Irro’s administration, with a renewed focus on regional diplomacy and international recognition.
