WASHINGTON — Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Cirro) and Foreign Minister Abdirahman Dahir Adam attended an event at the residence of Israeli Ambassador to the United States Dr. Yechiel Leiter, where the Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel (IBSI) celebrated Somaliland’s achievements and urged the US administration to follow Israel’s lead in recognizing Somaliland’s sovereignty.
The gathering was highlighted by IBSI Founder and CEO Dumisani Washington, who posted about the meeting on social media. Washington said IBSI congratulated Israel for acknowledging Somaliland’s sovereignty and encouraged the United States to do the same.
IBSI describes itself as an organization dedicated to strengthening the relationship between Israel and the Jewish people, and people of African descent through education and advocacy. Washington, a pastor and author, founded IBSI in 2013 after a visit to Israel, seeking to build solidarity between ‘Black’ and Jewish communities and between Israel and Africa and runs this organisation with his son, Joshua Washington .
The Washington Diplomatic Push
The event comes as President Cirro is in Washington for his first visit to the United States since taking office, a trip aimed at advancing Somaliland’s campaign for international recognition. The visit follows Israel’s decision in December 2025 to become the first UN member state to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent country [citation:2][citation:7].
Cirro visited Israel in June 2026, meeting with President Isaac Herzog and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, and Somaliland subsequently opened an embassy in Jerusalem . Israel named Michael Lotem as its first ambassador to Somaliland in April 2026 .
Somaliland Foreign Minister Abdirahman Dahir Adan has said the relationship between Somaliland and Israel has “no limits,” leaving open the possibility of security, economic, political and military cooperation, including a potential Israeli military base . “In any area and on any issue that we see that both countries can benefit from, we will cooperate, be it in the economic, security or political fields,” Adan said .
US Recognition Remains Uncertain
Despite the diplomatic momentum, US recognition remains uncertain. President Donald Trump said in December 2025 that he did not back recognizing Somaliland, telling the New York Post “No” when asked about the issue and adding: “Does anyone know what Somaliland is, really?”. Trump later indicated that “everything is under study” and that the United States would critically review the issue before making any decision .
Trump also reacted dismissively when asked about Somaliland’s suggestion to offer the US access to a port on the strategically important Gulf of Aden, saying “Big deal”.
Ambassador Leiter, who took up his post in Washington in January 2025, is a key figure in presenting Israel’s case to the US administration, Congress, and the American public . His hosting of the Somaliland delegation signals continued Israeli support for Hargeisa’s recognition campaign.
Strategic Importance and Regional Tensions
Somaliland holds strategic importance due to its position on the Horn of Africa near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and major Red Sea shipping routes . Israel and Somaliland have already moved to deepen cooperation in security, agriculture, water, health and economic matters .
Somalia’s federal government has strongly rejected the growing relationship between Somaliland and Israel, saying any foreign engagement with Somaliland outside Mogadishu’s authority violates Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. Several Arab, Islamic and regional organizations have also condemned Somaliland’s engagement with Israel, particularly the opening of a mission in Jerusalem.
Critical Note
The event at the Israeli ambassador’s residence represents another step in Somaliland’s carefully calibrated diplomatic campaign to convert Israel’s recognition into broader international acceptance, particularly from Washington. By cultivating relationships with organizations like IBSI, which frame support for Israel and support for Somaliland within a race based framework, Hargeisa is attempting to build a coalition of American voices that can press the case for recognition.
The road to US recognition, however, remains uncertain. President Trump’s public skepticism about Somaliland, including his dismissive response to the offer of port access, suggests that the White House is not yet prepared to follow Israel’s lead. The strategic value of Somaliland’s location near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is clear, but Washington appears to be weighing this against its longstanding policy of supporting Somalia’s territorial integrity and the potential regional fallout from recognition.
For Somaliland, the challenge is to demonstrate that recognition would serve US interests without destabilizing the region. The deepening security cooperation with Israel provides one argument, but the broader geopolitical calculus, including relations with Somalia, Turkey, and Gulf states, remains complex. The coming weeks will test whether Hargeisa’s diplomatic outreach can overcome the caution in Washington.
