President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi speaks about the strategic window of opportunity and calls on Israeli companies to invest in the country’s natural resources, ports, tourism and agriculture.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu surprised the world at the end of last December when Israel became the first country in the world to recognize the independence of Somaliland – an unprecedented step led by the president last year, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, and resulting in unusual images of a Muslim country bathed in Israeli flags.
In a special interview with Globes from the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Abdilahi calls on Israeli companies to come to his country (“We are rich in resources, and welcome investments”); criticizes Somalia for its decision not to allow Arkia planes to pass through its territory (“Civil aviation is intended for cooperation and security”); and does not rule out the possibility of granting an Israeli company a port on its territory (“We are open for business”)
A semi-democratic country in a particularly strategic location
Abdullahi (70), known as “Iro”, was born in Hargeisa to a family of ten children. His father served in the police during the British colonial era, losing his mother as a child. His academic education began with accounting studies at the SIDAM Institute in Somalia, and then he studied at California State University. He earned his MBA from the State University of New York.
In 1981, he joined the Somali diplomatic service, and about seven years later he was appointed deputy ambassador to Moscow – a position he held until 1996. That same year, he left for Finland, where he joined his family who had moved to the country a few years earlier, received Finnish citizenship and founded the Somaliland community in Helsinki. He returned to Somaliland in 1999, and began his political career in 2005 – and served as speaker of the House of Representatives for 12 years. The first time he tried to run for president in 2017, he lost to President Musa Bihi Abdi, but in 2024 he managed to defeat him.
As for Somaliland itself, which many had never heard of before Netanyahu’s surprise announcement, its roots lie in the British colony that united with Italian Somaliland in 1960 to form a united Somalia. After the collapse of the regime in Mogadishu in 1991, Somaliland restored its independence, and has since tried to gain international recognition for its approximately 6 million residents. Against this backdrop, Abdullahi’s achievement of Israeli recognition was greeted with huge celebrations.
Somaliland is a democratic country, with a Freedom House rating of 42/100. For comparison, Somalia only scores 8. It has two houses of parliament, a constitution, and its own security forces. A key reason Somaliland is classified as “semi-free” in the index is its three-party system, with the current president coming from the Waddani party.
In the best of Israeli tradition, when considering the move to recognize Somaliland, they took into account its strategic location and influence in the regional struggle against the Houthis in Yemen and Turkey in Somalia. Added to this is its great business and economic potential. “Israeli energy companies can come here,” says the president of Somaliland, whose coastline is about 850 kilometers long. “We promise that we will welcome any investment.”
According to Abdilahi, “Somaliland is a country rich in resources, in all types of minerals and oil and gas. We have a large maritime space, we have a large coastline, so we can develop there. We are also rich in livestock, and can be a source for Israel. Our land is very suitable for agriculture, so we can increase food security for the world in general and for Israel in particular.”
“I believe we will sign a broad trade agreement”
Although significant foreign oil and gas drilling has not yet been recorded in Somaliland, the United Arab Emirates has already gained a foothold in the nation, sending port giant DP World (Dubai Ports) to Somaliland. In 2019, the Emirati company won a 30-year contract to operate the strategic port of Berbera, which is located right next to Bab al-Mandab, north of which the Houthis carried out their attacks.
Will Israel also gain access to ports in Somaliland?
“We are open to business and investment for all countries in the world, including Israel.”
Abdilahi adds that “Somaliland is a country very rich in resources,” and that it is “open to trade, investment, economic cooperation, and also security cooperation. I encourage Israeli businessmen to come to our country to create energy, tourism, agriculture, grazing, aviation, and financial projects. The sky is the limit for Israel-Somaliland relations.”
Somaliland is also aware of its strategic location, especially in light of the Houthi attacks not far from the country, which disrupted shipping traffic in the Red Sea – through which, until the war, about 12% of global maritime trade passed. Shipping giants were forced to turn to the Cape of Good Hope, a route that is about two weeks longer. “Somaliland is important for maritime trade, and therefore relations with Israel are also important,” says Abdilahi.
Are there talks between the governments to develop relations?
“I believe and hope that a broad trade agreement will be signed between the countries, which includes the issues of development, trade, tourism, mining, and more.”
Somalia closes accounts: “This is unacceptable”
The Somaliland issue made headlines again last week, following the puzzling delay in renewing the periodic permit for Arkia to transit through Somali airspace. This was the company that flew Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on his historic visit to Hargeisa about a month ago. All signs indicate that this is a closing of accounts, and it is still too early to know what will happen to El Al’s periodic permit, which is active until March.
Transit through Somali airspace is critical for Israeli airlines on routes to the Far East. From Israel, there are three main routes for these flights: the first is via the Red Sea, which crosses Somalia; the second is the route used by Israeli companies before the war, which is no longer available, which passes through Saudi Arabia and Oman; and the third is the “northern route”, currently used for flights to Vietnam, and passes over Turkey and Central Asia before turning south to destinations in the East.
Blocking Somalia’s airspace leaves only the “northern route” – which extends flight time from Israel to the east and increases fuel costs.
“I think the world of civil aviation is meant for cooperation and security,” the Somaliland president criticizes the action, which was apparently dictated by his Somali counterpart, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. “Any move that disrupts civil air traffic is unacceptable, and I hope this decision will change.”
Will we see regular civilian flights from Hargeisa to Israel and back?
“We would welcome direct flights from Tel Aviv to Hargeisa, and so would Israeli tourists. We want to move forward and develop our tourism industry.”
Be the first to comment