Addis Ababa Hosts President Irro for Strategic Bilateral Talks

Addis Ababa, 14 October 2025 — Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Irro) arrived in Addis Ababa on Tuesday for his first official visit to neighboring Ethiopia since assuming office on November 13, 2024.

President Irro was warmly received at Bole International Airport by the Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs, underscoring the significance of the visit between the two long-time partners in the Horn of Africa.

While official details of the discussions have not yet been disclosed, diplomatic observers suggest that the visit could focus on several strategic and economic issues of mutual interest — potentially reshaping regional cooperation and integration.

Among the possible agendas are:

1. Energy and Infrastructure Cooperation – Ethiopia’s Calub Natural Gas Project, located in the Somali Regional State, has been long awaiting an efficient export route. The Berbera Port in Somaliland, just under 500 kilometers away, offers the most direct and cost-effective corridor for gas exportation. The two governments could explore logistical and infrastructural cooperation to facilitate this vital trade route.


2. Industrial Development and Fertilizer Exports – The upcoming Godey Fertilizer Factory, reportedly one of the largest in Africa and funded by Dangote Group of Nigeria, could also find Berbera a strategic outlet for international exports. Strengthened Somaliland–Ethiopia trade ties would directly benefit both economies and boost employment opportunities on both sides of the border.


3. Regional Diplomacy and Recognition – Analysts note that Ethiopia, as a regional power, could play a pivotal role in advancing Somaliland’s long-sought international recognition. Recent shifts in global politics, particularly with increasing Western and U.S. Republican interest in stable Red Sea partnerships, have renewed optimism that Addis Ababa might take a leading role in formalizing relations.


4. Free Trade and Economic Integration – Ethiopia’s recent implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement opens a new era of tariff-free trade across the continent. Somaliland, with its stable governance and strategic coastline, could benefit greatly through bilateral arrangements that enhance the movement of goods, investment, and services.


5. Security and Military Cooperation – Given the turbulence in the Horn of Africa, both nations are expected to discuss security and defense cooperation, potentially including joint maritime security initiatives and enhanced border coordination.



President Irro’s visit marks a potential turning point in Somaliland–Ethiopia relations, combining shared economic interests with mutual aspirations for peace and prosperity in the region.

Observers across the Horn see this as a strategic moment that could bring Somaliland further into regional integration frameworks, strengthen its international position, and expand the avenues of cooperation between the two nations.

Somaliland.com