Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi “Cirro” is set to visit Saudi Arabia in the coming days following an official invitation from the Kingdom, multiple sources have confirmed. The high-level delegation will include senior cabinet officials from key ministries such as Foreign Affairs, the Presidency, and Livestock. Additionally, representatives from the security sector, including intelligence officials, may also take part in the visit. Due to the sensitivity of the discussions, sources requested anonymity, while the Presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have not commented on the matter.
Saudi Arabia remains Somaliland’s largest market for livestock exports, an industry that plays a crucial role in the nation’s economy and supports millions of pastoralists. The Kingdom imports significant numbers of livestock from the Horn of Africa during the Hajj season, but Somaliland has faced political challenges in fully capitalizing on this opportunity. Experts point out that Somalia’s control over livestock certification has often restricted Somaliland’s direct exports, forcing the region to rely on third-party routes or Somali certification, which has led to economic setbacks. Securing a direct livestock export agreement with Saudi Arabia would be a key outcome of President Cirro’s visit.
President Cirro’s Saudi visit follows his recent trip to the United Arab Emirates, which, despite Somaliland’s close economic ties with the UAE, did not result in any publicly announced agreements or investments. Unlike the UAE, which has made direct investments in Somaliland, Saudi Arabia has maintained limited engagement, largely aligning its Horn of Africa policy with Mogadishu. However, with Riyadh placing greater emphasis on securing Red Sea trade routes, analysts believe this visit could mark a turning point—provided Somaliland can present a compelling case for stronger bilateral relations.