Davos, Switzerland – In a move reflecting a significant shift in the diplomatic landscape of the Horn of Africa, the President of Somaliland, Abdirahman Iro, announced that he held a private dinner meeting last night with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. This meeting culminates a series of rapid developments following Israel’s official and unilateral recognition of Somaliland as an independent state on December 26, 2015. This decision ended decades of international isolation for Hargeisa and paved the way for its repositioning on the regional and international political map.
Davos is a platform for establishing recognition
The bilateral talks between Presidents Abdirahman Ayro and Isaac Herzog focused on ways to deepen the emerging diplomatic relations. They also discussed laying the groundwork for future cooperation.
In this context, Abdirahman Ayro affirmed his country’s readiness to join the Abraham Accords framework. This move aims to integrate Somaliland into the new regional system. Furthermore, it seeks to strengthen its role as a strategic partner in securing maritime routes and combating terrorism.
For his part, Israeli President Isaac Herzog welcomed the development of diplomatic relations with Somaliland. He also praised Hargeisa’s efforts to enhance its international presence and forge new partnerships. He considered this path to be conducive to regional stability and opening up broad prospects for cooperation in the fields of economics, security, and technology.
The dinner was attended by prominent international figures, including Eric Trump, son of US President Donald Trump. This attendance underscores the political momentum this rapprochement enjoys within influential circles in the current US administration. It also confirms the growing interest in Somaliland as an emerging player in the Red Sea and Horn of Africa security equation. The Davos meeting follows the historic visit of Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to Hargeisa earlier this month. That visit laid the groundwork for economic and security cooperation between the two sides.
