He makes case for Somaliland’s international recognition, highlights the importance of Berbera Port in the Horn Region
By M.A. Egge
President says Dubai conference will be the first country to recognize Somaliland and important agreements with Ethiopia
President of the Republic of Somaliland H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro, has expressed the hope that the nation of Somaliland is expecting international recognition soon from major states.
The Head of State noted that the country and nation of Somaliland hopes that the United States of America would be the first nation to acknowledge Somaliland as a sovereign state and recognize it.
The President gave the remarks at the World Governments Summit on Tuesday Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, yesterday, saying that it was high time that the nation should be recognized after three decades.
“We hope that the United States will be the first country to recognize Somaliland,” said President Abdirahman Cirro.
Sentiments pointing to US recognizing Somaliland has been rife in the global and international main media for the past several weeks with widespread talk that the issue is in the plans of the new US president, Donald Trump.
While talking at the summit, the Somaliland president described the union that Somaliland entered into in 1960 with Italian Somalilnd soon after gaining independence from the British Empire was as ill-fated as it was unfortunate.
He pointed out that Somaliland was by then propelled by the Great Somalia dream.
He explained the scenario that had Somaliland re-assert its sovereignty by dissolving the uncharted union in 1991.
Given the current state of the world, noted the President, “Somaliland is at a strategic point. As a country, Somaliland gained independence on 26 June 1960, unfortunately we decided to seek unity with the five Somali colonies and form the Greater Somalia by uniting with Somalia, which gained its independence five days later from Italy (after Somaliland) on 1 July 1960”.
Despite the fact that the President lamented that the communities of world nations have not officially recognized Somaliland as a de-jure state, “international community engages with us as an independent nation”.
The President’s speech marketed the nation as a strategic and vibrant economic hub.
He highlighted the importance and status of Berbera port as a major habour in the region and especially along the Gulf of Aden region. While emphasizing on its enviable strategic location in the region, he highlighted on the development and modernization implemented at the port over the past three decades, and most recently, to make it an internationally formidable commercial and associated port.
“The port of Berbera is more famous than the Red Sea itself (given history), and the DP World invested 400 million hence it has modernized and expanded its scope and services.
Speaking about the Ethiopian-Somaliland relations and cooperation, President Abdirahman Irro said that he would complete the trade agreements in the course of the year.
He said, “Berbera is an important port that provides services to countries without ports. The biggest customer is our neighboring and friendly country Ethiopia, which has a population of over 140 million. I hope to complete the trade agreements between the two countries within the year”.
“Somaliland has an 850 km coastline on the Gulf of Aden. The city of Berbera, a strategic port, was used by the Russian and American powers during the Cold War, so you can see its importance there,” he noted.
On the progress in state-building and the electoral system, the President said that Somaliland has matured in the democratization processes and power has been subsequently been transferred peacefully, just as both the parliamentary and civic elections have always been successfully held.
“In terms of our democratic system, we expect rewards (through recognition) from the international community; we have good relations with the United States, Britain and many countries around the world, now I hope that the United States will be the first country to recognize Somaliland”, said the President.
The President and his entourage jetted out of the country on Monday aboard an executive jet after receiving the invitation from the UAE for the 13th World Governments Summit, which grew bigger and bigger by the year.
He was accompanied by the ministers of foreign, presidency, finance and religion and endowment, and also, the chief of staff of the presidency.
The World Governments Summit was established in 2013 under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai. Since then, the organization and its leadership have continued to champion the mission of shaping future governments and creating a better future for humanity. Working together with its community of partners and members, the Summit has successfully established a new model for international collaboration to inspire and enable the next generation of governments.
It is summit whereby world governments, international organizations, think-tanks and thought leaders and top private sector executives converge to inspire the next generations of governments.