DAVOS (SD) – President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro) and the delegation he led have today returned to the country following a highly successful working visit to Davos, Switzerland, where he participated in the annual World Economic Forum—a gathering of global leaders, influential politicians, diplomats, and international business figures.

During his stay in Davos, the President skillfully presented the case of the Republic of Somaliland in sessions attended by international leaders and major investors, clearly articulating its legal, historical, and political right to be part of the global community.

In Davos, the President of Somaliland delivered a speech detailing the achievements Somaliland has made over more than 34 years of state-building, based on peace, stability, democracy, good governance, and the rule of law. He firmly emphasized that Somaliland fully qualifies for international recognition and membership in the global community.

Furthermore, the President of Somaliland comprehensively presented the extensive investment opportunities available in Somaliland, particularly in agriculture, livestock, minerals and energy, natural resources, economic infrastructure, and regional trade connectivity. He asserted that Somaliland is a secure, reliable, and open country for substantial financial cooperation.

The President of Somaliland held meetings and discussions with global leaders, heads of state, and international organizations, which strengthened Somaliland’s reputation and visibility on international platforms.

While in Davos, the President of Somaliland once again demonstrated to the world that Somaliland is not seeking aid or handouts but is demanding recognition, respect, and partnership based on shared interests, peace, and development. He also affirmed Somaliland’s readiness to play a meaningful role in the stability, commerce, and security of the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.

The speech detailing peace, democracy, and the rule of law is a curated performance of statehood. It directly counters the “failed state” image associated with Somalia. By listing sectors like agriculture, minerals, and infrastructure, he is providing a tangible investment prospectus, making the case for Somaliland’s viability not just as a political entity but as an economic project.

The mere act of holding meetings with global leaders at Davos, regardless of their public stance, grants Somaliland a form of de facto recognition through association. Being seen in serious discussions on the sidelines of the world’s most important economic forum elevates its status and normalizes its leadership as peers in global dialogue. This soft power is invaluable.

Positioning Somaliland as ready to contribute to regional stability and security is a direct pitch to great power interests. With the Red Sea a zone of intense competition (US, China, EU, Gulf States), offering a stable, pro-Western partner with a strategic coastline is a compelling value proposition. This shifts the conversation from “should we recognize it?” to “can we afford not to engage with this potential anchor of stability?”

Somaliland’s Davos success creates a new and difficult reality for Mogadishu and its allies. It becomes harder to dismiss Somaliland as an isolated, breakaway region when its president is rubbing shoulders with global elites and pitching projects. The international community now faces a starker choice: continue propping up a failed state, or begin adapting its policies to the de facto economic and political reality that Somaliland is aggressively marketing.