“We reiterate that no regional cooperation framework can be sustainable if Somaliland is excluded from decisions affecting the region”
Hargeisa (SLpost)- Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro), has reaffirmed his government’s confidence in Ethiopia and warned against foreign interference in the country’s sovereignty and stability.
Speaking on Thursday, October 15, upon returning from a trip lasting more than a month to the United States and the United Arab Emirates, Irro criticised the alliance formed by Egypt, Somalia, Eritrea and Sudan, saying Somaliland opposes actions that undermined its statehood.
“Ethiopia is a neighbouring country in whose cooperation and partnership we have great confidence. We strongly oppose interference or any action that could threaten its stability and national sovereignty,” the president said.
He also warned countries against interfering in Somaliland’s internal affairs, security and stability, saying such actions would receive an appropriate response.
“Somaliland strongly opposes the actions taken by the recently formed alliance of countries led by Egypt, which undermine its sovereignty and statehood,” Irro said.
He added that regional cooperation could not be sustainable if Somaliland were excluded.
“We reiterate that no regional cooperation framework can be sustainable if Somaliland is excluded from decisions affecting the region,” he said.
Egypt-Led Alliance Opposes Somaliland Recognition
The president’s remarks follow a quadrilateral summit held in New Alamein, Egypt, on October 4, attended by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and Sudanese leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
The meeting addressed regional political and security issues, cooperation among the participating countries, and developments in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.
The joint declaration reaffirmed the participants’ support for what they called ‘Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity’ and rejected international recognition of Somaliland.
Somaliland Reaffirms Partnership with Ethiopia
President Irro’s statement reaffirmed Somaliland’s commitment to maintaining good relations with neighbouring countries, particularly Ethiopia.
“Somaliland’s policy is to live in peace and maintain good neighbourly relations with the countries around it,” the president said, while warning against interference in the affairs of Somaliland and Ethiopia.
Ethiopia is a key regional trading partner for Somaliland. The port of Berbera and the Berbera Corridor provide an important commercial route connecting Somaliland with Ethiopia, a landlocked country that relies on regional transport networks for international trade.
Relations between Hargeisa and Addis Ababa have also attracted regional attention because of Ethiopia’s interest in securing reliable access to maritime trade routes.
The Somaliland government has continued to emphasise the importance of economic cooperation, regional stability and diplomatic engagement with neighbouring countries.
Regional Tensions Over the Red Sea
The Egypt-led alliance comes amid broader regional tensions involving maritime security, access to the Red Sea and competing political and economic interests in the Horn of Africa.
Egypt and Ethiopia have a longstanding dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which Egypt considers a major concern for its water security. Ethiopia views the dam as a central development project.
The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden are also strategically important waterways for international trade, making regional cooperation and maritime access significant issues for countries in the Horn of Africa.
Against this backdrop, President Irro reiterated Somaliland’s opposition to foreign interference and its position that his country should be included in regional cooperation and decision-making.
The president’s remarks reaffirmed Somaliland’s support for Ethiopia’s stability and sovereignty, while restating Hargeisa’s opposition to the Egypt-led alliance’s position on Somaliland’s international recognition.
