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Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has once again shown strong support for Somaliland’s efforts to gain international recognition. His latest show of solidarity came during a high-level meeting in Nairobi with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro.
The meeting, which was described as a farewell gathering, took place shortly after Somaliland officially opened a diplomatic liaison office in Kenya’s capital. This move, however, led to immediate backlash from Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which restated its support for Somalia’s territorial integrity. According to the ministry, Kenya still considers Somaliland as part of Somalia and had not approved any upgrade of the liaison office to full diplomatic status.
Despite the Kenyan government’s cautious stance, Raila Odinga welcomed President Abdirahman and his delegation warmly. The Somaliland leader later expressed gratitude to Raila for his long-standing support.
“I would like to thank the respected African statesman, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, for hosting a farewell dinner in my honour,” President Abdirahman said in a statement. “Your continued support for Somaliland’s rightful place in the international community is deeply appreciated.”
The issue of Somaliland’s recognition remains a sensitive topic in the Horn of Africa. Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991 after the collapse of the Somali central government. Since then, it has operated as a separate state with its own government, currency, and institutions. However, it is still not recognized by any country or major international body, including the African Union and the United Nations.
The recent developments in Nairobi have increased diplomatic tensions. Even though the Kenyan government has distanced itself from the Somaliland liaison office, President Abdirahman also held a separate meeting with Kenya’s President William Ruto on May 28. The meeting has not yet been publicly acknowledged by President Ruto’s office, but the Somaliland presidency reported that it focused on cooperation in areas such as education, peace and security, economic development, and building strong institutions.
These back-to-back engagements—first with Ruto and then with Odinga—have stirred reactions across the region, particularly in Mogadishu. The Somali government strongly opposes any actions that may be seen as recognizing Somaliland as an independent state.
For Somaliland, however, this diplomatic tour is a part of a larger effort to gain support from African nations and build international partnerships. Over the years, it has built informal ties with several countries and maintains representative offices in places like the United Kingdom, United States, and Ethiopia.
The Nairobi office is seen by Somaliland as a step forward in strengthening its foreign relations, even though Kenya has clarified that the office does not carry the status of an embassy or full diplomatic mission.
Raila Odinga’s public support adds weight to Somaliland’s campaign, especially given his influence in African political circles. While his support does not represent Kenya’s official position, it does signal growing interest in Somaliland’s case among African leaders.
For now, Somaliland continues its diplomatic outreach in hopes of one day being recognized as a sovereign nation. Until then, it faces strong resistance from Somalia and a cautious approach from other African states and international organizations.
As the situation unfolds, the Horn of Africa remains on alert, with regional leaders closely watching how Kenya balances its relations with both Somalia and Somaliland.