Hargeisa — President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Cirro delivered his second annual address to a joint session of Somaliland’s House of Representatives and House of Elders on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, outlining his administration’s achievements over the past year and setting the agenda for the period ahead. Speaking before members of both parliamentary chambers, Supreme Court justices, cabinet ministers, military commanders, and party leaders, President Cirro addressed four major themes: Somaliland’s growing international recognition, deepening ties with Israel and other potential partners, national security reforms, and economic development.
International Recognition and Diplomatic Progress
President Cirro reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to pursuing full international recognition, building on the historic breakthrough of December 26, 2025, when Israel became the first sovereign nation to formally recognise Somaliland’s independence. The recognition, announced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, marked the culmination of over three decades of diplomatic effort and sparked celebrations across Hargeisa.
Since taking office in December 2024, President Cirro has pursued an assertive diplomatic strategy. He convened a landmark meeting with seven former foreign ministers in January 2026 to harness institutional memory and guide Somaliland’s diplomacy into its new era. He has sent personal letters to 193 heads of state offering strategic access and cooperation in exchange for recognition. While Israel remains the only country to have formally responded with recognition, the President indicated that diplomatic momentum is building and that more announcements are expected in the coming months.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2026, President Cirro met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Eric Trump, signalling Somaliland’s growing presence on the international stage. He has also consistently aligned Somaliland with US foreign policy positions, including support for the 2026 intervention in Venezuela, as part of a broader strategy to demonstrate Somaliland’s value as a reliable partner for Washington.
Relations with Israel
President Cirro spoke warmly of Somaliland’s deepening relationship with Israel, describing it as a partnership built on shared values and mutual strategic interest. He confirmed that Somaliland’s first formal embassy abroad will be established in Israel, a move he described as historic and long overdue. Since Israel’s recognition, the two countries have exchanged ambassadors and signed initial cooperation agreements. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar visited Hargeisa in January 2026 for high-level talks focused on security cooperation, trade, and infrastructure investment.
The President addressed the regional backlash that followed Israel’s recognition, noting that Somaliland does not seek confrontation but is fully prepared to defend its territory and sovereignty. He rejected threats issued by Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, who warned of attacks on Israeli facilities in Somaliland, and reiterated that such threats would not deter Somaliland from pursuing its national interests. He also sent personal letters to the leaders of Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, urging them to follow Israel’s lead and recognise Somaliland.
Countries Signalling Closer Engagement
While no second formal recognition has yet been announced, President Cirro noted that several countries are engaging Somaliland at an increasingly serious level. The United States has sent AFRICOM delegations to Hargeisa on a monthly basis, according to Somaliland’s Washington representative Bashir Goth, and senior US military officials have toured Berbera Port to assess its strategic and operational capacity. The Republic of Somaliland Independence Act, introduced in the US Congress by Representative Scott Perry, authorises the President to grant formal recognition and has attracted growing bipartisan attention.
Ethiopia continues to be Somaliland’s most important regional partner, with the 2024 memorandum of understanding granting Ethiopia Red Sea access through Berbera serving as the foundation for deeper economic and diplomatic ties. President Cirro reaffirmed his commitment to completing bilateral trade agreements with Ethiopia and announced planned diplomatic visits to both Addis Ababa and Djibouti to strengthen regional relationships. The United Arab Emirates, which operates Berbera Port through DP World and maintains a diplomatic representative in Hargeisa, also remains a key partner. Taiwan, with whom Somaliland has maintained de facto diplomatic relations for several years, continues to deepen cooperation in agriculture, technology, and governance.
Security
On national security, President Cirro outlined a series of reforms his administration has implemented over the past year. The government has continued the expansion of Somaliland’s National Reserve Forces, first announced in his inaugural parliamentary address in April 2025, which are designed to supplement the regular military and increase the country’s overall defence capacity. The Coast Guard has been significantly expanded, with capabilities tripled to strengthen Somaliland’s maritime border security — a priority given the territory’s 850-kilometre coastline on the Gulf of Aden and its proximity to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The President highlighted the successful integration of clan militias into the national forces, the introduction of biometric registration to eliminate ghost soldiers from military payrolls, and continued security reforms in eastern Somaliland. He credited the Vice President, Mohamed Ali Aw Abdi, for leading a successful reconciliation delegation that brought an end to a nine-year conflict in El-Afweyn, calling it one of the most significant security achievements of his administration. Security at all national airports has also been enhanced, reflecting the government’s focus on protecting Somaliland’s growing international connectivity.
President Cirro reaffirmed Somaliland’s position on Somalia’s repeated provocations, condemning what he described as interference in Somaliland’s internal affairs and violations of its sovereignty. He stated firmly that Somaliland’s territorial integrity, nationhood, and sovereignty are non-negotiable and will be defended by all necessary means.
Economy
On the economy, President Cirro acknowledged that Somaliland is emerging from several years of economic stagnation and outlined the concrete steps his administration has taken to revive growth and attract investment. Seven major road construction and rehabilitation projects have been initiated or completed, linking livestock and agricultural regions to domestic markets, cities, and ports. Infrastructure investment is central to the government’s economic strategy, with the Berbera Corridor — the road linking Berbera Port to Hargeisa and onward to Ethiopia — serving as the backbone of regional trade.
The government has completed the assessment phase for the construction of a new commercial port at Lughaya, which is expected to become a major trade hub on Somaliland’s western coast. In Berbera, electricity prices have been reduced to /bin/sh.20 per kilowatt-hour, making it the most affordable city for electricity in Somaliland and creating a more attractive environment for industrial and commercial investment.
Berbera Port itself continues to drive Somaliland’s economic transformation. Under DP World’s management, the port has expanded its container handling capacity, attracted a new dedicated shipping route to Jebel Ali in the UAE, and launched a 0 million livestock quarantine facility developed with Taiwanese, Saudi, and American partners. More than four million heads of livestock move through Berbera annually, generating over one billion dollars in export revenue.
The President also reaffirmed Somaliland’s openness to foreign investment, particularly in critical and rare earth minerals, which the government has offered to develop in partnership with the United States and other strategic partners. Exclusive mineral access has been proposed as part of a broader package to incentivise recognition, alongside military basing rights at Berbera.
Looking Ahead
President Cirro concluded his address by calling on all Somalilanders to unite behind the national project, reminding citizens that the progress achieved over the past year is the product of collective resilience and shared sacrifice. He expressed confidence that Somaliland’s international standing will continue to grow, and that formal recognition by additional countries — including, he hopes, the United States — will come in the period ahead. “The window for recognition has never been more open,” he said, adding that Somaliland’s democracy, stability, and strategic value make the case for recognition stronger than ever before.