ADDIS ABABA, (HAN) — Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi “Irro” arrived in Addis Ababa on Monday for an official visit following an invitation from Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The trip marks Irro’s first official visit to Ethiopia since taking office nearly a year ago.
The visit comes at a critical time for Somaliland’s foreign relations and internal politics. President Cirro is expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Abiy on strengthening bilateral relations, regional security, and the long-standing issue of Somaliland’s international recognition.
Since his election, Cirro’s administration has faced domestic debate over its foreign policy approach, with critics accusing him of political inexperience and inconsistency. His supporters, however, describe the trip as a chance to reset relations with Ethiopia, a key regional player whose policies often shape the Horn of Africa’s political landscape.
Ethiopia, a landlocked nation with a population of more than 120 million, has long sought reliable access to the sea. The country’s strategic interests in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden have deepened tensions with neighboring states, including Eritrea, Somalia, and Djibouti.
Somaliland, with its coastline along the Gulf of Aden, remains a vital consideration in Ethiopia’s maritime ambitions.
Political observers in Hargeisa note that Cirro’s visit comes shortly after Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s own trip to Addis Ababa — a move seen as part of a broader diplomatic tug-of-war between Mogadishu and Hargeisa. While Somalia continues to assert sovereignty over Somaliland, Hargeisa maintains its push for international recognition, arguing that it has functioned as a de facto independent state since 1991.
“President Irro’s visit is more than a courtesy call,” said one regional analyst in Hargeisa. “It is a political test to determine whether Somaliland can defend its national interests without compromising its delicate relationship with its powerful neighbor.”
The visit also takes place amid reports of rising tension between Ethiopia and Eritrea, with fears that renewed conflict could erupt. Analysts suggest that, should conflict resume, Ethiopia may seek access to a Red Sea port to support its naval ambitions — a move that could once again draw Somaliland into a complex geopolitical equation.
Former Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi once described diplomacy as “a slow-cooking process where the frog never realizes the water is boiling.” Many in Somaliland view that metaphor as a warning for Irro: to approach Ethiopia’s overtures with both caution and strategic foresight.
As the meetings in Addis Ababa unfold, attention across the Horn of Africa is focused on how Somaliland current leader Irro will present Somaliland’s case — not just for recognition, but for a balanced, mutually beneficial partnership with Ethiopia that safeguards the region’s fragile stability.
