Hornpost
Somaliland Enters New Strategic Era Following Israel’s Recognition and President Tells Officials to Prepare for Expanded Global Engagement.
Hargeisa (Horn Post) President of the Republic of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Irro), has declared that the people of Somaliland have historically defended their dignity, sovereignty, and national existence “with both pen and gun,” sending a clear message to the international community, Somaliland’s allies, and what he described as its adversaries.
President Abdirahman Irro made the remarks during a high-level meeting held in Hargeisa on Tuesday with the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, Directors General of government and heads of independent national institutions.
The meeting focused on the new strategic, diplomatic, and security landscape facing Somaliland following Israel’s formal recognition of the Republic of Somaliland on December 26, 2025.
Addressing the gathering, President Abdirahman Irro praised the resilience and determination of the Somaliland people, stressing that their statehood is the result of decades of sacrifice and self-reliance.
“The message I am sending to the world, to Somaliland’s friends and to those who are now Somaliland’s enemies, is what history itself has testified to: the people of Somaliland have sacrificed both pen and gun to defend their dignity and the existence of their state,” the President said.
Preparing for a New Era of International Engagement:
President Irro emphasized that Somaliland must now prepare itself institutionally for expanded international cooperation following recognition, warning that ministries and state institutions will face unprecedented levels of engagement.
“Today, we are a recognized country. What will increase for you are relations and cooperation with many countries. You must therefore prepare yourselves to manage and handle the growing number of partnerships that are coming,” he said.
He added that cooperation across ministries and independent institutions would be significantly greater than before, requiring unity, professionalism, and strategic coordination.
Somaliland’s State-Building Compared to Somalia:
In a direct comparison between Somaliland’s state-building experience and that of Somalia, President of the Republic of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Irro), underscored Somaliland’s homegrown political process.
“We built our state under trees; we built our own government. Other Somalis had their state built for them by outsiders,” he said.
Expanding on this point, the President stated that Somaliland’s peace, governance, and institutions were not imported or imposed.
“Somaliland is a hardworking people who built peace, established administration, and constructed their own governance. No one built Somaliland for us. We held conferences under trees, in remote areas, and in our cities,” President Irro said.
Somaliland President contrasted this with Somalia, noting that more than 20 reconciliation conferences were held outside the country, while Somaliland’s peace emerged internally.
“The peace Somaliland achieved was not exported to it; it was born from within. The system of governance we established is one we created ourselves,” President Cirro added.
International Recognition of Somaliland’s Progress:
President of the Republic of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Irro), affirmed that the international community acknowledges Somaliland’s progress over the past 34 years, particularly in democracy and governance.
“Today, it is acknowledged that in terms of democracy and administration, Somaliland is ahead of all other Somali-speaking communities and even the wider region,” he said.
While acknowledging remaining challenges, the President stressed the importance of continued effort and reform.
“We cannot say everything is complete. Many things are still lacking, but what we need is commitment and hard work to implement them,” he added.
Directives to Senior Civil Servants:
The President issued firm directives to Directors General, describing them as the engine of government performance. He instructed them to base their work on justice, good governance, transparency, absence of favoritism and corruption, respect for the rule of law, and strict adherence to official working hours.
“Directors General are required to translate policies, laws, and government decisions into action and deliver services to the people,” he said.
He warned that development does not occur automatically, reiterating that transparency, anti-corruption measures, and prevention of abuse of public authority must remain core government priorities.
Linking Development to Justice and Discipline:
President Irro further emphasized that national development is inseparable from justice, rule of law, and discipline in public service.
“Development comes from a government system based on justice, good governance, and the supremacy of the law,” he said.
He stressed the importance of the eight-hour working day, applying equally to ministers, directors, and civil servants.
“Working hours and national development are directly linked. Every individual—whether minister, director, or employee—must fulfill the eight-hour workday. This is not optional; it is a duty and a responsibility owed to the nation,” the President stated.
Meeting Concludes with Unified Commitment:
In response, the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission and the attending Director Generals extended their congratulations to President Cirro for securing the historic recognition.
The meeting concluded with full consensus and a shared commitment to strategically, transparently, and responsibly capitalize on Somaliland’s recognition, and to harness the accompanying strategic, economic, and developmental opportunities for the benefit of the nation.
Some of the pictures of the events:
Prepared by:
Horn post staff reporter
Hargeisa Somaliland.
