DP World urges recognition of Somaliland, joining a rising wave of political and economic support as President Abdirahman Irro pitches the nation as the Horn of Africa’s most stable trade and security partner.
DUBAI — A bold declaration from Dubai’s global ports powerhouse, DP World, has thrust Somaliland’s decades-long quest for international recognition back into the geopolitical spotlight.
The company’s Group Chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, publicly endorsed Somaliland’s independence, arguing that recognition would “bring more trade and investment” to one of the Horn of Africa’s most stable and strategically vital regions.
Speaking alongside Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro at The Africa Debate in Dubai, bin Sulayem praised the country’s business-friendly climate and political stability — two qualities rarely associated with its turbulent neighborhood.
“I had no reservations about investing in Somaliland,” he said, referencing DP World’s $400 million expansion of the Berbera Port, now capable of handling the largest cargo vessels in the Red Sea.
The company is also developing a manufacturing and logistics free zone nearby — a project positioned to serve both Somaliland and landlocked Ethiopia’s 126 million-strong market.
DP World’s statement marks a turning point in the region’s recognition debate. Beyond logistics, it signals that powerful Gulf investors — and increasingly Western policymakers — are beginning to see Somaliland not as a renegade province but as a reliable partner for trade and security in a volatile region.
President Irro, speaking with characteristic composure, underscored the legitimacy of Somaliland’s statehood, calling his nation “the only democratic and elected government among Somali territories.” He framed recognition not as a favor but as a reality overdue: “Our people are distinct, our democracy is functioning, and our borders are stable. Recognition will only confirm what already exists.”
In Washington, voices like Senator Ted Cruz and other lawmakers have echoed similar sentiments, viewing Somaliland as a potential ally against rising threats in the Red Sea — from Houthi incursions to China’s expanding military footprint in the region. Recognition, they argue, would unlock intelligence and security cooperation while anchoring Western influence along one of the world’s most critical maritime arteries.
For DP World, the calculus is economic but no less strategic. Recognition would stabilize banking, insurance, and trade flows currently constrained by Somaliland’s unrecognized status.
The company’s long-term bet on Berbera reflects confidence that the international tide is slowly turning — from skepticism to pragmatic engagement.
President Irro has sent official recognition appeals to more than two dozen nations, including the U.S., U.K., France, Israel, and the UAE. While formal responses remain pending, his recent diplomatic visits to Djibouti and Kenya suggest growing regional acceptance. “Somaliland will have its place in the international club,” Irro declared in Dubai. “Very soon.”
