Somaliland’s President, Mr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi, also known as Irro, stated that Israel is a close and reliable ally after the country made the historic decision to officially recognize the Republic of Somaliland. In his annual constitutional address to both Houses of Parliament on Tuesday, the President expressed his gratitude to the Israeli government for their bold decision, stating, “The Israeli government has taken a courageous step in recognizing Somaliland, and I believe they will be a dependable ally.” He expressed optimism that Israel will not be the only nation to recognize Somaliland, and emphasized that other countries will follow suit. He also mentioned that Somaliland is currently establishing diplomatic ties with other countries who are interested in closer cooperation. The President revealed that the recognition has exposed many of Somaliland’s enemies who were previously hiding, and who strongly opposed Israel’s decision. He called on the public and government agencies to unite in support of the recognition and be prepared for future successes. However, the Israeli government remains firm in their decision to recognize Somaliland, with their Foreign Minister stating that their stance will not change. On the other hand, President Abdirahman Irro has urged the Somali Federal government to recognize Somaliland as an independent state, emphasizing that a two-state solution is the only viable option. He stated, “The only way to resolve this issue is for the two countries to be brotherly neighbors, living in peace and stability and establishing closer bilateral cooperation.” He added, “We are ready for this, but they must accept the reality that Somaliland is an independent country.” The President announced that Somaliland will continue its diplomatic efforts to gain full international recognition, as this is the commitment of both the government and its people, and this dream will soon become a reality.
