By Goth Mohamed Goth

Hargeisa, – The President of the Republic of Somaliland, His Excellency Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro), hosted a meeting at the Presidential Palace with the outgoing and incoming heads of the UK Government Office in Hargeisa, Mr. Ilyaas Malek and Ms. Louise Hancock, respectively, alongside their delegation.

The discussions centered on reinforcing the longstanding bilateral ties between Somaliland and the United Kingdom, as well as exploring avenues for enhanced cooperation.

During the meeting, Mr. Ilyaas Malek introduced his successor, Ms. Louise Hancock, and the Deputy Head of the UK Office in Somaliland to President Cirro. Mr. Malek expressed his appreciation for Somaliland’s hospitality and commended the new administration’s efforts in fostering peace and stability.

He also lauded Somaliland’s steadfast commitment to democratic governance and underscored the significance of inclusive dialogue in addressing regional challenges.

Key Discussion Points:

1. Deepening Bilateral Relations
2. Expanding Economic and Investment Collaboration
3. Enhancing Regional Security and Stability
4. Promoting Higher Education and Academic Partnerships
5. Supporting Statehood and Local Development Initiatives

UK officials emphasized their interest in fostering investment opportunities, particularly in business, renewable energy, and technology—sectors critical to Somaliland’s sustainable growth.

The meeting concluded with both parties expressing optimism about the future of Somaliland-UK relations. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening partnerships, advancing shared priorities, and supporting Somaliland’s development and international engagement.

Hussein Adan Cige (Deyr) Presidential Spokesperson, Republic of Somaliland

By Goth Mohamed Goth

The President of the Republic of Somaliland, His Excellency Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Iirro), held a distinguished dinner meeting at the Presidential Palace for various business leaders from Somaliland.

The business community’s dinner reception was attended by members of the Council of Ministers, parliamentarians, leaders of the National Armed Forces, the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Somaliland, Director Generals, elders, and other dignitaries.

During the occasion, significant remarks were made highlighting the crucial role and esteemed position of Somaliland’s business community in the country’s development, security, stability, and overall social welfare.

The Ministers of Interior and Commerce, Mr. Abdalle Mohamed Arab and Mr. Abdirahman Hassan Nur, the Chairman of Dahabshiil Group, Mr. Mohamed Said Duale, and the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Jamaal Aideed Ibrahim, who each delivered speeches, all warmly welcomed the President of Somaliland’s dedicated initiative to hold a special meeting with the nation’s business leaders. They also clearly stated their commitment to closely collaborate on the developmental steps being taken by the government in partnership with the people.

The President of the Republic of Somaliland, His Excellency Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, delivered brief remarks during the distinguished dinner, thanking the business community for their indispensable role in peace, stability, social progress, and the enhancement of national income and economy.

Similarly, the President of the Republic of Somaliland expressed his gratitude to the business leaders for their enthusiastic participation in the meeting. He emphasized that his administration is determined to work closely with the business community on all matters related to trade, investment, tourism, and industrial development in the country.

Hussein Adan Cige (Deyr), Spokesperson of the President of the Republic of Somaliland

By Goth Mohamed Goth

Hargeisa-The President of the Republic of Somaliland, His Excellency Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro), today held an important meeting at the Presidential Palace with the heads of United Nations agencies, led by the highest official for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Mr. George Conway, along with a large delegation that included the head of the UN OCHA office, Blaise Kabongo Mujika, and other senior officials from the UN office in Somaliland.

First, the head of the UN delegation, Mr. George Conway, congratulated the President of Somaliland on the historic victory he achieved in the 2024 Presidential Election.

Similarly, the delegation commended the nation of Somaliland for its security, stability, democracy, and adherence to international laws and regulations, stating that UN agencies will continue to strengthen the longstanding and effective partnership they have with Somaliland.

The President of the Republic of Somaliland, in turn, discussed key issues of national importance with the delegation, including: peace and stability, democratic affairs, humanitarian aid, and the review and reassessment of the quantity, quality, and financial scope of projects implemented by UN agencies in the Republic of Somaliland.

The President of Somaliland informed the delegation that despite lacking international recognition, Somaliland has successfully maintained peace, security, and the construction of a democratic statehood for over 30 years—an achievement that is rare and exceptional in the Horn of Africa, a region plagued by conflicts.

President Abdirahman Cirro told the Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations for Somaliland and Somalia that the UN’s support should be based on fairness, ensuring that Somaliland receives appropriate and equitable support and assistance.

The President of Somaliland also informed the Deputy Special Representative that Somaliland has conducted multiple transparent elections held in peace, including at the presidential, parliamentary, and local levels. Furthermore, Somaliland is now preparing for the upcoming electoral cycles, which are expected to take place within the scheduled timeframe, in accordance with our legal framework that prevents the country from falling into election-related disputes and political controversies.

In conclusion, the President of Somaliland told the Deputy Special Representative that Somaliland is ready to engage in constructive and meaningful cooperation with the UN but will not beg for it. Somaliland is prepared to address the serious challenges facing the Horn of Africa region.

The President of Somaliland emphasized to the UN that Somaliland must not be equated with Somalia. The UN should respect Somaliland’s official stance regarding the self-determination of the people and nation of Somaliland—a historic decision fully endorsed by the people of Somaliland through a free and fair referendum.

MP and legal expert Hon. Mustafa Mohamed H. Dahir delivered a speech related to the Somaliland Recognition at a meeting held in USA

MP Mustafa, member of Elders House who details about the object of the meeting stated “I had the privilege of presenting at the Future Diplomacy Forum 2025, where I explored the legal and diplomatic dimensions of Somaliland’s pursuit of international recognition.

The presentation focused on the challenges and strategies involved in Somaliland’s quest for statehood, examining both the legal foundations and diplomatic efforts that have shaped its path.

Key points included:

1. Legal Framework: I discussed the legal arguments supporting Somaliland’s claim to statehood, including the principles of self-determination and the historical context of its independence before the 1960 union with Somalia.
2. Diplomatic Strategies: The presentation highlighted Somaliland’s diplomatic initiatives, showcasing its efforts to gain international recognition through bilateral relations and multilateral engagements, despite facing opposition from Somalia.
3. Regional and Global Implications: I also touched upon the broader geopolitical and strategic considerations that impact Somaliland’s recognition, underscoring how the Horn of Africa’s diplomatic landscape influences its pursuit.

The session provided valuable insights into the complex intersection of law and diplomacy in Somaliland’s quest for recognition, illustrating both the challenges it faces and the resilience of its diplomatic efforts.

https://headwayinstitute.org/fdf-2025/

The training implemented by the Centre for Community Services (CCS) at Amoud University (AU), the COHESA “Multiplier” in the country held in Borama.

Dr. Yusuf Hared, is the Country Multiplier Lead and Director of CCS, who oversees the training.

Who and How the training will be conducted?

This five-day workshop 5-9 April in Borama use a facilitator guide and participant manual developed by ILRI under the HEAL project. Training was delivered by Prof. Siobhan Mor, who led the material development and HEAL trainings in Ethiopia and Kenya, and Dr. Farah Isse Mumin, a HEAL-affiliated PhD student who participated in those sessions.

Dr. Yusuf Hared, who officially opened training workshop provided an overview of the COHESA project, highlighting key activities completed in the country and how this workshop was initiated in response to capacity gaps identified during the national baseline assessment and net-mapping exercises.

He was followed by senior management from Amoud University, including the Principal of the College of Health Sciences, Vice Presidents for Academics & Research, and Public Relations and Extracurricular Activities.

They expressed their pleasure in welcoming such a committed and diverse group, emphasizing the importance of the workshop as a platform for learning, collaboration, and capacity building.

They noted that the workshop is not only about knowledge transfer but also a space for dialogue, experience-sharing, and practical skill development that can benefit both individuals and institutions.

Gratitude was extended to all organizers, facilitators, and partners. Participants were encouraged to actively engage, ask questions, and collaborate throughout the training.

The President of Amoud University, Dr. Mohamed Musa, then officially declared the workshop open and wished all participants a successful and impactful experience.

Why This Training:

The “One Health” approach brings together different fields to create a joined-up way of improving the health of the people, the animals, and the environment. It recognizes that the health of humans, animals, and the environment are interconnected and that issues such as diseases, food safety, and environmental health require collaborative, multisectoral and multi-prong efforts.

Higher education institutions and relevant government bodies are crucial in promoting “One Health” in any country. However, the concept is relatively new to Somaliland, primarily introduced by the HORN project, the Borama “One Heath” conference, implemented by Amoud University, and the COHESA project, leading by Amoud university as Multiplier. Many academics and government officials have only a superficial understanding of the said concept and need to learn practical applications.

There is a clear need to train key stakeholders on the basic principles and applications of One Health to strengthen cross-sector collaboration—both at the faculty level in academia and at administrative levels in government.

This activity delivers a ToT for 29 selected participants (22 male, 7 female), including 15 from One Health line ministries at central and regional levels—namely the Ministry of Health Development, Ministry of Agriculture Development, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, and the National Disaster Preparedness and Food Reserve Authority (NADFOR), as well as the Borama District Municipality.

The remaining 14 participants represent academic and research institutions such as Amoud University, University of Hargeisa, Burao University, Golis University, IGAD Sheikh Technical Veterinary School, Adal University, Alpha University, Eelo University, the Public Health Emergency and Research Center, and the Sadar Development and Resilience Institute.

“The program covers an introduction to One Health principles, followed by a focus on systems thinking. It emphasizes data-driven decision-making for evidence-based practice in One Health and highlights the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration and coordination. The final focus is on participatory community engagement within the One Health framework.”