Somaliland president urges world to recognise sovereignty

Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (centre), Public Law Professor PLO Lumumba(left) and Somaliland Ambassador to Kenya Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Mohamoud at KICC in Nairobi. [Boniface Okendo, Standard] Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, also known as Irro, has urged the international community to recognise Somaliland's sovereignty, saying the self-declared republic operates as a stable democratic state. He made the appeal on Saturday during a meeting with the Somaliland Community in Kenya at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi. "Somaliland is not just an aspiration, but a functioning reality," said Abdullahi, adding, "We are a nation forged not through external imposition but through the collective will of our people." His remarks came days after a meeting with President William Ruto at State House in Nairobi, which raised questions about Kenya's position on Somaliland. Abdullahi's spokesperson, Hussein Aden Igeh, shared an image of the two leaders on X and said the meeting took place on the same day Somaliland opened a liaison office in Nairobi. "The two Heads of State engaged in a wide-ranging discussion on matters of mutual interest and regional significance, with particular attention to bilateral cooperation including the promotion of trade, investment, economic development and enhanced air connectivity," explained Igeh. He added that the leaders also discussed peace, education and institutional development. "The meeting reaffirmed the strong and longstanding relationship between Somaliland and Kenya, a partnership anchored in mutual respect, shared values and a common vision for peace, stability and prosperity across the region," observed Igeh. Abdullahi said Somaliland, which marked 34 years since declaring independence from Somalia on Saturday, May 18, has held six peaceful multi-party elections with smooth transfers of power. "Our recent presidential election, praised by international observers, reaffirmed Somaliland's commitment to a political culture where ballots, not bullets, decide leadership," noted Abdullahi. He urged global partners to view Somaliland not as a charity case but as a source of stability and growth in the region. "Somaliland is a nation that delivers tangible returns in regional stability, trade and democratic proof of concept," Abdullahi explained. "We ask, how many more decades must Somaliland prove itself before the world acknowledges what our people have long known?" He outlined future priorities including infrastructure, climate resilience and youth employment but said formal recognition remained critical. "Today is not just a celebration, it is a reaffirmation that our cause is just, our resolve unshaken and our future bright," added Abdullahi.

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Somaliland president urges world to recognise sovereignty

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