Somaliland leader Abdirahman Irro received a high-level delegation from the United States this week, led by Ambassador Richard Riley (U.S. Ambassador to Somalia) and AFRICOM Commander General Michael Langley. The discussions reportedly focused on strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in the area of regional security and strategic cooperation.
The visit included a stop in Berbera, where the U.S. delegation inspected a military facility that is reportedly under development. This visit comes amid growing speculation about the establishment of a U.S. military base in the area — a move widely interpreted as part of Washington’s efforts to secure its interests along the Bab el-Mandeb maritime chokepoint.
Sources close to the matter also note to WAJ that U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ervin Massinga, recently made remarks which he expressed support for Ethiopia’s access to the sea, raising further interest in the deepening geopolitical interests converging in the Horn of Africa.
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reportedly installed surveillance radars in Puntland, in cooperation with Israel — a development that adds yet another layer to the increasingly complex military dynamics in the region.
Analysts believe that these parallel developments involving Ethiopia, the UAE, and the United States indicate a deeper trilateral alignment that could reshape strategic control along the Horn of Africa’s coastline.
It remains unclear how these moves might affect the recently signed Addis Ababa–Hargeisa memorandum, but there is growing speculation that Somaliland President Abdirahman Irro could soon pay an official visit to Ethiopia to further solidify bilateral ties.