By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Somalia, 1 Sep. 26 – Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro is expected to travel to the United States in the coming days, marking his first visit to the country since taking office, according to Israeli broadcaster KAN.
Citing diplomatic sources familiar with the trip, KAN reported that the visit will focus on Somaliland’s efforts to build on Israel’s recognition and persuade the United States to take a similar step.
Irro is expected to visit New York, where he will meet members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. Diplomatic sources also said he hopes to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.
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The trip comes approximately three months after Irro visited Israel—a visit Israeli media described as historic—following Israel’s announcement in December last year that it recognised Somaliland as an independent state.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has yet to secure widespread international recognition. Somalia’s federal government has repeatedly maintained that Somaliland remains part of the Federal Republic of Somalia. Successive Somali governments have stressed that the Somaliland issue can only be resolved through dialogue and a mutually agreed political process.
Somaliland’s efforts to secure U.S. recognition face political and regional challenges, as most countries in the region and international organisations support Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.