Somaliland President Irro Meets Ruto in Nairobi as Push for Trade and Investment Grows
Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro met Kenyan President William Ruto and senior officials in Nairobi, with talks focused on strengthening trade, investment and economic cooperation.
NAIROBI, Kenya (Somali Report) — Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro) held closed-door talks with Kenyan President William Ruto and senior government officials during a recent visit to the East African country, seeking to strengthen ties between the breakaway Somali region and its neighbour, Somaliland’s ambassador to Kenya said.
Ambassador Mohamed Abdilahi Omar said Irro met Ruto at State House in Nairobi, as well as National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and other senior Kenyan leaders. The meetings focused on trade and investment, economic cooperation and regional issues of common interest, Omar said in a statement describing the visit.
The trip comes as Somaliland seeks to deepen its international engagement and build economic and diplomatic partnerships, despite lacking broad international recognition as an independent state. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has since operated with its own government and institutions, while Mogadishu continues to regard the territory as part of Somalia.
According to the ambassador, Irro also met about 20 members of Nairobi’s diplomatic and development community, allowing him to outline his administration’s priorities and discuss potential cooperation in infrastructure, energy, healthcare, investment and economic development.
Omar described the meeting as particularly significant because it allowed diplomats and development partners to engage directly with the Somaliland president, ask questions and present their views.
“I was particularly encouraged by the genuine interest in Somaliland and the willingness to engage in a substantive discussion about where our respective interests can meet,” Omar said.
He added that the visit built on contacts and discussions that Somaliland’s mission in Kenya had been developing throughout the year.
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Somaliland has sought to attract foreign investment and expand its economic partnerships, particularly in sectors such as infrastructure, energy and trade. Kenya, meanwhile, has maintained ties with Somaliland while also recognising Somalia’s territorial integrity.
The ambassador said there was “considerable goodwill” towards Somaliland in Kenya, describing the response to the president’s visit as encouraging.
“Our task now is to build on that goodwill, keep these conversations moving and turn the opportunities identified into meaningful partnerships and tangible results for Somaliland,” Omar said.
The visit also comes against the backdrop of Somaliland’s broader efforts to strengthen its international standing and secure recognition. Israel said it recognized Somaliland as an independent country in December 2025, a move that was widely condemned as a violation of Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Omar thanked Kenyan officials and members of the diplomatic and development community for what he described as a warm reception for Irro and an open exchange during his visit. Kenya has a diplomatic mission in Hargeisa, Somaliland's capital, and it has developed cooperation in trade, according to reports.
He said the Somaliland mission in Nairobi would now focus on translating the discussions into practical cooperation and partnerships, particularly in areas that could contribute to economic development and investment in the breakaway region of Somaliland.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.