The president of Somaliland has used the global stage of the World Economic Forum in Davos to push a clear message: Somaliland is open for business and no longer wants to be seen as an aid-dependent territory. In a series of discreet meetings, President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi met with senior international figures, including Israel’s head of state and a key figure from the Trump family’s global business network.
During the annual gathering in Switzerland, President Abdullahi, widely known in Somaliland as “Cirro,” held separate discussions with Isaac Herzog and Eric Trump, signaling a shift in Somaliland’s external engagement strategy toward diplomacy backed by economic partnerships.
According to Somaliland officials, the talks focused on political relations, investment opportunities, and the long-term positioning of Somaliland as a commercial gateway in the Horn of Africa. The meetings reportedly took place behind closed doors under the Greek House Davos initiative, a private forum known for hosting confidential discussions among political and business elites.
Following his meeting with the Israeli president, Abdullahi stated that the conversation centered on strengthening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation between Somaliland and Israel. The engagement comes just weeks after Israel became the first country to formally recognize Somaliland, more than three decades after the territory declared independence from Somalia.
Herzog later described the meeting as constructive, welcoming the establishment of diplomatic relations and expressing interest in deeper cooperation that would benefit both societies.
Alongside diplomatic outreach, Somaliland’s leadership placed strong emphasis on economic engagement. An advisor to the president, Abdirahman Bayle, confirmed that Eric Trump showed particular interest in Somaliland’s untapped economic sectors. While Trump does not hold an official role in the United States government, he is a senior executive within Trump Organization, which manages the Trump family’s global commercial interests.
Bayle said discussions with Trump focused on attracting international investors to Somaliland’s livestock and agricultural sectors, with the goal of industrializing production and expanding exports to global markets. Livestock remains Somaliland’s primary export, with Saudi Arabia as its main destination, but officials believe value-added processing and diversified trade routes could significantly boost revenues.
Geography remains one of Somaliland’s strongest selling points. Positioned along key Red Sea and Gulf of Aden shipping lanes, the territory sits near one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors. During the meetings, President Abdullahi highlighted the strategic importance of the Berbera Port, presenting it as a future logistics and energy hub capable of serving East Africa and beyond.
According to Bayle, Somaliland’s approach to international engagement has fundamentally changed. Rather than appealing for humanitarian assistance, the government now frames itself as a partner offering resources, stability, and access to strategic infrastructure.
“For the first time, we are not asking the world for aid,” Bayle said. “We are offering our resources.”
The Davos engagements reflect Somaliland’s broader effort to convert political visibility into tangible economic outcomes. With growing interest from investors and recent diplomatic breakthroughs, Somaliland’s leadership appears determined to reposition the territory as a serious player in regional trade and international cooperation.
As Somaliland continues its campaign for wider recognition, these high-profile meetings suggest a calculated pivot toward investment-led diplomacy, where economic relevance becomes a pathway to political legitimacy.