Hornpost
Somaliland President Tells Sky News Arabic: “Somaliland Existed Before Somalia,” Rules Out Security Cooperation with Mogadishu
DUBAI / HARGEISA — (Horn post) The President of the Republic of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Irro), has addressed key questions related to Somalia’s political status and regional security in an interview with Sky News Arabic, reaffirming Somaliland’s long-standing position on sovereignty and its lack of formal security cooperation with the Federal Government of Somalia.
Speaking to the Arabic-language broadcaster, President Irro responded to two central questions: whether Somaliland cooperates with Somalia on counterterrorism and anti-piracy efforts, and whether Somaliland considers itself a breakaway region from Somalia.
President Irro firmly rejected the notion that Somaliland is a secessionist entity, stating that Somaliland is not a state that broke away from Somalia, but a country that existed before Somalia gained independence. He reiterated that Somaliland’s claim to statehood is rooted in historical and legal foundations predating the formation of the Somali Republic in 1960.
On regional security, the Somaliland leader said that while his government would welcome cooperation, there is currently no security coordination between Somaliland and Somalia, particularly in the areas of counterterrorism and the fight against piracy. His remarks underscore the continued political and institutional separation between Hargeisa and Mogadishu, despite shared security challenges in the Horn of Africa.
Sky News Arabic has not yet aired the full interview, but released a short preview late Tuesday evening, drawing regional attention to President Irro’s comments on Somalia and international security cooperation.
Delegation Returns to Hargeisa, President Remains in Dubai
Separately, President Irro has sent back the full ministerial delegation that accompanied him on his official visit to the United Arab Emirates. The delegation — including the ministers of Foreign Affairs, the Presidency, Civil Aviation, Energy and Minerals, Religious Affairs, as well as the President’s Foreign Affairs Adviser — arrived in Hargeisa on Tuesday.
President Irro, however, remains in Dubai, with no official statement issued on whether he will return to Somaliland in the coming days or proceed to another international destination. According to official sources, only the Presidential Sectary, is still accompanying the President.
The developments come amid growing international interest in Somaliland’s strategic role along key maritime and trade corridors, including the Jebel Ali–Berbera axis, as regional geopolitics and Red Sea security continue to evolve.
Prepared by:
Horn post staff reporter
Hargeisa Somaliland,
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