According to sources within the Somaliland presidency, President Irro will visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday, following an official invitation from Dubai.

Somaliland and the UAE share close ties, with Dubai-based DP World managing Somaliland’s Berbera Port, a key strategic hub in the region.

Meanwhile, President Irro has postponed invitations from Ethiopia and Djibouti, prioritizing the UAE visit due to its strategic importance, according to presidential sources.

Ethiopia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Somaliland’s former leader, Muse Bihi Abdi, despite strong objections from Somalia’s federal government.

Sources in Hargeisa indicate that the MoU remains in effect, and the new Somaliland administration is exploring ways to engage Ethiopia in discussions to further address the agreement.

The MoU grants Ethiopia access to the Red Sea and a 20-kilometer naval base in exchange for Somaliland’s recognition.

However, Somaliland’s new Foreign Minister, Abdirahman Dahir Adan, recently stated that the agreement is still under review.

Djibouti, on the other hand, has expressed dissatisfaction with the Addis Ababa-Hargeisa MoU, as it poses potential risks to Djibouti’s port operations.

Djibouti’s port is heavily relied upon by Ethiopia for imports and exports, and any alternative access through Berbera or other Red Sea routes could significantly impact Djibouti’s revenue from port taxes and fees.