JERUSALEM (SD)– President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi continued his official visit to Israel today with a visit to the Knesset, where he was received alongside the First Lady and members of the Somaliland delegation.

According to a statement issued by the Somaliland Presidency, President Irro was accorded a formal reception at the Knesset, including ceremonial honours and an official welcome reflecting the significance attached to the visit by Israeli authorities.

During the visit, President Irro signed the Knesset’s Guest Book of Honour, leaving a message emphasizing peace, democracy, cooperation, and friendship between Somaliland and Israel.

The Somaliland leader also held discussions with senior Israeli parliamentary officials, including Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana. The talks focused on strengthening ties between the legislative institutions of both sides and expanding parliamentary cooperation.

President Irro highlighted his own experience as a former Speaker of Somaliland’s House of Representatives, a position he held for more than a decade, and stressed the importance of exchanging parliamentary knowledge and democratic experience.

According to the Presidency, discussions covered cooperation in democratic governance, legislative development, multi-party politics, and electoral processes.

The visit was described by Somaliland officials as one of the most significant events of President Irro’s ongoing trip to Israel and part of broader efforts to strengthen Somaliland’s international engagement and diplomatic partnerships.

The Presidency stated that the growing relationship between Somaliland and Israel could lead to increased cooperation in political, legislative, economic, and development sectors.

President Irro concluded the visit by thanking Speaker Amir Ohana and members of the Knesset for the reception and hospitality extended to the Somaliland delegation.

The Knesset visit adds another symbolic and political dimension to President Irro’s trip to Israel. Meetings with parliamentary leaders complement his earlier engagements with senior Israeli executive officials and demonstrate efforts to build relationships across multiple branches of government.

For Somaliland, the visit provides an opportunity to showcase its democratic institutions and parliamentary experience, which have long been central to its argument that it functions as a stable and self-governing political entity deserving of greater international recognition.

The emphasis on legislative cooperation is particularly notable given Iirro’s own background as a former parliamentary speaker. This allows Somaliland to present itself not only as a security partner but also as a political system with democratic credentials and institutional experience.

From Israel’s perspective, hosting Somaliland’s president at the Knesset signals a willingness to deepen political engagement and broaden bilateral cooperation beyond diplomacy and security matters.

The visit is also likely to attract attention across the Horn of Africa and the wider Middle East, where Somaliland’s growing relationship with Israel continues to generate both interest and debate. Whether these engagements translate into broader international support for Somaliland remains uncertain, but they undoubtedly raise Somaliland’s diplomatic profile and visibility on the international stage.