By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
Somalia, 18 June 2026 – Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro said on Wednesday his administration would make water services its top social development priority, with Israel's help to expand clean water access. #Somaliland #Israel
Irro, who is visiting Israel, said Somaliland officials had held talks with Israeli counterparts on cooperation in water management, technical training and the development of water-related infrastructure.
He said his administration aimed to ensure that every Somaliland resident had access to sufficient water within the next three years.
“We will work to ensure that every citizen has access to water. That is the highest priority we are giving to social services,” Irro said.
He made the remarks during a meeting with senior officials from MASHAV, Israel’s international development cooperation agency.
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Irro and his delegation also met a second group of 25 Somaliland engineers receiving training in Israel on the management, administration and development of water resources.
Somaliland officials say the partnership could help expand water services and strengthen the technical capacity of institutions responsible for managing water resources.
Water shortages remain a major challenge across Somaliland, including in Hargeisa.
Irro said the city had an estimated population of nearly two million people, but only about 30,000 households received regular piped-water services.
Somaliland authorities said they expected cooperation with Israel to support the development of more reliable water infrastructure and improve access to clean water.