By Goth Mohamed Goth
HARGEISA, Somaliland — The President of the Republic of Somaliland, His Excellency Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Irro), today held a significant strategic meeting with Major General Claude K. Tudor Jr., Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA), along with a high-level delegation accompanying him.
President Cirro extended his gratitude to Major General Tudor and his delegation for their visit to the Republic of Somaliland.
The meeting featured in-depth discussions on strengthening security cooperation and the shared strategic interests between the Republic of Somaliland and the United States, with particular focus on securing the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and overall stability in the Horn of Africa region.
President Cirro emphasized that the Republic of Somaliland is the most critical country when it comes to safeguarding the region’s maritime corridors—including the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandab, and the Gulf of Aden—possessing over 850 kilometers of coastline along one of the world’s most vital shipping routes. He noted that the security of Somaliland’s coasts is integral to both regional and global security.
The President underscored that Somaliland cannot be overlooked, and stressed that any party interested in security cooperation along Somaliland’s coasts must engage directly with the Republic of Somaliland.
President Irro further affirmed that the Republic of Somaliland has maintained peace and stability for over 35 years, with established state institutions and a democratic political system.
The President of Somaliland clearly expressed that Somaliland is prepared to establish close and continuous cooperation with various U.S. military forces and security agencies to strengthen the fight against terrorism, piracy, organized crime, and other threats affecting peace and stability in the region.
In response, Major General Claude K. Tudor Jr. stated that the United States and Somaliland share significant security interests concerning both land and maritime domains, noting that stability in the Horn of Africa and the security of international waterways are priorities for both nations.
He added that the United States is ready to work closely with Somaliland on strategic matters of mutual interest, and to further strengthen cooperation, intelligence sharing, exchange of expertise, and security collaboration for the future.
The meeting concluded with mutual understanding and an agreement between the two sides to further enhance cooperation on key shared interests.
