Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro) stated that he hopes security cooperation between Somaliland and Israel will begin before the end of this year.
Irro made these remarks after concluding a two-week visit to Washington, D.C., during which he spoke to journalists, including reporters from JNS.
The President noted that addressing water issues is Somaliland’s top priority, highlighting that Israel has trained 50 Somaliland engineers who are expected to participate in projects such as the desalination of seawater in Berbera.
“We hope that security cooperation will begin before the end of the year,” Irro told the JNS reporters.
A JNS report indicated that this potential security cooperation between Somaliland and Israel comes at a time when Somaliland has also proposed cooperation with the United States regarding counter-terrorism, maritime security, and the protection of vessels navigating regional waters.
Irro stated that officials from the U.S. administration and the Department of Defense informed him that Washington wishes to see the relationship between Somaliland and the United States continue to grow. The report linked this matter to Somaliland’s strategic location, particularly its proximity to Yemen and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
While in Washington, Irro also held meetings with members of the American Jewish community, expressing hope that these ties could lead to investment in Somaliland from Jewish sources or Israel.
The President also addressed the impact of regional conflicts on Somaliland’s economy, noting that the volume of shipping containers passing through the port of Berbera had dropped by nearly 48 percent—a decline that affected the country’s revenue, which relies heavily on maritime traffic. He expressed optimism that the downturn is temporary and that trade activity will recover once the conflicts end.
