By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Hargeisa, 3 September 2026 Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro departed on Thursday for the United States on an official working visit, with a stopover in the United Arab Emirates. The trip will be his first visit to the U.S. since assuming the presidency.
Irro is expected to visit New York, where he will hold meetings with members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. Diplomatic sources have also said the president hopes to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to the Somaliland Presidency, the agenda will focus on strengthening relations between Somaliland and the United States, expanding cooperation on security and economic affairs, promoting investment and advancing Somaliland's efforts to secure international recognition.
The visit comes about three months after Irro's trip to Israel, a visit described by Israeli media as historic. It also follows Israel's announcement in December that it had recognized Somaliland as an independent state.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has yet to secure broad international recognition. The Federal Government of Somalia has repeatedly maintained that Somaliland is part of the Federal Republic of Somalia and insists the dispute should be resolved through dialogue and a mutually agreed political process.
Related articles
Relations between Somaliland and Israel have also drawn attention because of Somaliland's strategic location. Its long coastline along the Gulf of Aden and proximity to the Bab al-Mandab Strait give the territory significant importance for regional security and international maritime trade.
The strategic importance of the area has grown following attacks by Yemen's Houthi movement on commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea, which have disrupted international shipping through the waterway.
However, Somaliland's efforts to secure U.S. recognition face political and regional challenges. Most countries in the region, as well as international organizations, continue to support Somalia's territorial integrity and unity.
Irro's visit will therefore be an important test for his administration's foreign policy, particularly its efforts to strengthen ties with Washington and persuade U.S. policymakers to support Somaliland's case for independence.