Israeli Prime Minister Invites Somaliland President Irro for Official Visit After Recognition

GOOBJOOG NEWS|TEL AVIV: President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Irro) has received a formal invitation to visit Israel following the country’s decision to recognize the Republic of Somaliland as a sovereign and independent state.

According to a statement from the Somaliland presidency, the invitation was extended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a high-level virtual meeting held on December 26, shortly after Israel formally announced its recognition.

The presidency said the proposed visit is intended to advance and formalize bilateral cooperation between the two sides, marking the first direct diplomatic engagement at presidential level following the recognition.

The invitation comes at a pivotal moment for Somaliland, which has spent more than three decades seeking international recognition after declaring independence from Somalia in 1991. Officials in Hargeisa say Israel’s decision validates Somaliland’s longstanding claim to statehood and its pursuit of lawful recognition through peaceful and institutional means.

“This historic act affirms Somaliland’s enduring statehood and marks its irreversible emergence onto the international stage,” the presidency said in its statement.

While no dates have been announced, an official visit by President Irro would signal the practical implementation of the newly established diplomatic relationship and could lay the groundwork for cooperation across political, economic, and security sectors.

The development also carries broader regional significance, as Somaliland has indicated its intention to accede to the Abraham Accords, positioning itself within a growing framework of engagement linking Israel, Africa, and the Middle East.

Somaliland authorities view the invitation as a strong political signal that Israel’s recognition is not symbolic, but part of a move toward sustained bilateral relations.

There was no immediate response from Somalia’s federal government to the invitation or the recognition at the time of publication.