Dubai, United Arab Emirates — Dubai-based port magnate DP World has openly called for the international community to formally recognize Somaliland, a self-declared independent region that broke away from Somalia in 1991 but has never received diplomatic recognition from any United Nations member state.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, speaking alongside Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi Irro at The Africa Debate forum in Dubai, argued that formal statehood would unlock critical economic and investment opportunities for Somaliland.
“Recognition will bring more trade and investment,” he said, citing interest from businesses drawn to the region’s resources in livestock, agriculture, minerals, as well as its strategic port infrastructure at Berbera.
DP World has been heavily invested in Somaliland for years, having taken charge of the Port of Berbera under a 30-year concession in 2016. The company committed more than US$400 million to expand the facility, adding yard space, modern cranes, and developing a free-zone to improve the port’s capacity. Ethiopia also holds a minority stake in the venture, seeking access to the sea via the Berbera corridor.
President Irro has emphasised Somaliland’s distinct identity from Somalia, pointing to the region’s relative stability and functioning democratic institutions. He claims to be “the only elected Somali leader,” contrasting himself with what he considers impunity and instability in Mogadishu. These points, he argues, satisfy many of the criteria for state recognition.
However, despite these appeals, no country has yet granted Somaliland official recognition. Diplomatic hesitancy appears driven by concerns over regional stability, respect for Somalia’s territorial integrity, and uncertainties about the legal and political precedents such recognition could set.
Somalia’s central government has long viewed Somaliland’s efforts as a violation of its sovereignty. In past instances, Mogadishu has protested agreements made by Somaliland and external actors—such as DP World—with claims that they bypassed federal authority.
Outside of DP World, there is growing interest among U.S. politicians and other international actors in considering Somaliland’s statehood. But the shift has been cautious. Many remain concerned about the diplomatic consequences, especially in light of historical precedent and Somalia’s continued insistence on its borders as defined in its constitution and by the international community.
With its port expansion nearing substantial capacity and foreign investment flowing, Somaliland argues that economic realities are pushing the world closer to recognizing its de facto independence. As DP World and Somaliland officials make their case, the question remains whether political will will catch up with economic momentum.