On the second day of his meetings on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the President of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro), held separate meetings with the Chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee, Brian Mast, and Senator Mike Rounds.
According to a statement from the Office of the President of Somaliland, the discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between Somaliland and the United States—particularly regarding regional security and stability, maritime security in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, as well as trade, investment, and economic partnership opportunities.
The meetings also addressed past legislative efforts in the U.S. Congress concerning Somaliland. In 2022, Senator James Risch introduced the Somaliland Partnership Act (S. 3861) in the Senate, a bill that Mike Rounds co-sponsored.
Meanwhile, on September 11, 2025, Brian Mast introduced H.R. 5300—the Department of State Policy Provisions Act—in the House of Representatives; this bill concerns foreign policy and the administration of the U.S. Department of State. A press release from the office of Somaliland Presidency stated that President Irro discussed Somaliland’s geographic and strategic importance during the meetings, highlighting the significance of its location regarding the maritime corridors of the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.
According to the report, President Irro also addressed the importance of cooperation in areas such as security, the protection of international trade flows, and the development of economic ties between Somaliland and the United States.
During the meetings, the President highlighted the values Somaliland shares with the United States, including freedom, democracy, security, stability, and the protection of human rights. The President’s office stated that the visit is part of Somaliland’s efforts to foster further relations and cooperation with U.S. political and legislative circles.
