Somaliland President, Mr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro, has arrived in Israel on a five-day official working visit on Sunday, stating that the it is a historic visit-becoming the 5th President from a Muslim country to have paid an official working visit to Israel. Upon arrival in Israel, Somaliland President, Mr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi Irro, along with his delegation were warmly received by his Israeli counterpart. In a statement that Somaliland President Irro posted on the social media, he said that it is a great honor to be received by his Israeli counterpart, Mr. Isaac Herzog, noting that the people of Somaliland have built a peaceful, democratic and resilient nation for the past 35 years. President Irro said, ” Somaliland people have built a peaceful, democratic and resilient nation for the past 35 years. We have been asking the world to recognize us. Israel has become the first UN member state to respond to that call.” Irro highlighted that the visit is a symbol of a new beginning for the Israeli- Somaliland relationship, noting that it carries the hopes and the aspirations of the people of Somaliland. On his part, Israeli President, Isaac Herzog, in a statement posted in the social media written in Somali read, ” Welcome to Israel, the President of Somaliland, Abdirahman Irro.” Herzog explicitly stated that it is a historic visit, which shows that there will be huge opportunities in the new partnership between Israel and Somaliland, noting that the two sides remain ready to build friendly and cooperative future. Herzog stated, “This historic visit symbolizes the great potential of the new partnership between the two countries.” This visit, which is the most significant one that Somaliland has conducted in the diplomatic arena at the international level, was honored with a protocol, which included the Red Carpet treatment, military salute, and playing of the National Anthem of the republic of Somaliland. Furthermore, It was the first time that the flag and the national anthem of the republic of Somaliland were officially displayed at the event of this level in Israeli Presidential Palace. The two leaders held official talks, which focused on strengthening friendly relations, strategic cooperation and mutual interests between Somaliland and Israel. They jointly expressed their commitment to building a partnership based on mutual respect, peace, stability and sustainable development. After the event, the two leaders jointly addressed the press in a statement, expressing their desire to strengthen bilateral relations, stressing the common values of peace, stability, development, democracy, coexistence and cooperation that are beneficial to the two peoples. Conversely, the President of Israel honored the President of Somaliland and his delegation with a lunch banquet, which took place at the Presidential Palace of Israel-which demonstrated the special appreciation for this historic and significant relationship between the two sides. The visit of the President of Somaliland to Israel is a sign of a new era that shows the efforts of the republic of Somaliland to expand its international relations, while showing the world its growing role in the fields of peace, democracy, regional cooperation and development.
