Somaliland President’s speech at the Africa Debate Dubai conference

Dubai (ANN)-The President of the Republic of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Cirro), delivered a speech at the Africa Debate Forum held in the UAE.

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Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi has revealed that he officially sent letters to various international leaders, including Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, in May this year, requesting recognition of Somaliland as an independent state.
Speaking at The Africa Debate conference in Dubai, Tuesday, Irro said Somaliland’s recognition efforts have been ongoing for decades but have yet to receive a formal response from the leaders to whom the requests were addressed, calling the silence “unfair.”
“On 18 May 2025, I personally sent letters to world leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Hassan Sheikh himself, the President of Djibouti, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, the President of France, and others. To date, we have not received any reply, and I see this as unjust,” Irro stated.

Abdirahman said Somaliland still holds strong hopes that its cause will eventually be considered, pointing to the support of senior U.S. officials and U.K. parliamentarians who are pushing the recognition agenda. He expressed his gratitude to those advocating for Somaliland’s case.
“I hope that eventually Somaliland will, in the near future, become one of the internationally recognized countries,” he added.

Somaliland president remarks came in response to a question about Somaliland’s decades-long struggle for international recognition — a campaign that has lasted for more than 30 years, since the region re-declared independence in 1991.

The Somaliland President emphasized that Somalialnd is peaceful, democratic, and regularly holds free and fair elections, while also maintaining an open investment policy that welcomes foreign investors. He argued that these conditions make Somaliland’s recognition bid worthy of serious consideration.)

Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Cirro) is a seasoned diplomat, political leader, and one of the most experienced statesmen in the Horn of Africa. He began his career holding senior positions in Somalia prior to its state collapse in 1991, after which he relocated to Hargeisa, Somaliland, initially as an investor before entering politics in 2001 as co-founder of one of the country’s first political parties. Over the past two and a half decades, he has played a central role in Somaliland’s democratisation process.

Elected to parliament in 2005, Dr. Abdirahman simultaneously became Speaker of the first democratically elected House of Representatives, a position he held for 12 years — making him the longest-serving speaker in Somaliland’s history. In 2011, he founded the WADDANI party, serving as its first chairman and presidential candidate. After narrowly losing the 2017 presidential race with 44% of the vote, he won a decisive victory in November 2024, securing 65.5% and a five-year mandate to lead the country.

Dr. Abdirahman’s career bridges business, diplomacy, and politics, equipping him with a unique perspective on governance and development. His vision is to position Somaliland as a recognised and constructive contributor to regional peace and international security, while fostering strong partnerships with global and regional actors. He is committed to attracting strategic investment into Somaliland’s untapped resources, including critical and rare earth minerals.

He holds an MBA, a Diploma in Peace and Conflict Studies, and an Honorary PhD.