Somaliland President Holds Strategic Talks with Senior U.S. Military Officials

The President of the Republic of Somaliland, H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Cirro), today met with senior officers from the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) to discuss regional security, counterterrorism, and deepening cooperation between Somaliland and the United States.

President Cirro welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed Somaliland’s pivotal role in promoting peace and stability across the Horn of Africa. He emphasized Somaliland’s three decades as a reliable partner committed to security, democracy, and regional stability.

> “Somaliland is a responsible state and a trusted partner. For more than 30 years, we have contributed to peace, security, and democratic development in the Horn of Africa,” President Cirro said, highlighting the nation’s strategic importance for maritime security in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.



The meeting comes amid renewed attention in Washington, where members of Congress have introduced resolutions urging deeper engagement with Somaliland—including potential recognition and consideration of a U.S. military presence in Berbera. With its deep-water port and modern airstrip, Berbera is increasingly viewed by American defense planners as a critical hub for securing maritime trade routes and countering extremist threats across East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

The U.S. officers commended Somaliland’s stability and vital contributions to regional and maritime security. They pledged to expand cooperation through training, intelligence sharing, and technical support to enhance Somaliland’s defense capacity.

President Cirro also expressed gratitude for the growing bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress, noting that Somaliland’s governance record and stability are being increasingly recognized as distinct from the ongoing turmoil in Somalia.

Today’s meeting marks another step in Somaliland’s drive to position itself as a key U.S. partner in the Horn of Africa. With instability in the Red Sea and global competition for strategic bases intensifying, analysts suggest Berbera’s importance could usher in a new phase of U.S.–Somaliland relations.