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The president of Somaliland spent the week at the World Economic Forum in Davos pushing for international recognition and promoting investment opportunities in the self-governing East African region. His visit was aimed at placing Somaliland on the global economic map by engaging influential political and business figures attending the high-level gathering.
One of the most notable meetings during the visit involved Eric Trump, the son of U.S. President Donald Trump and a senior executive within the Trump family business empire, which has interests ranging from real estate to digital assets. According to an aide familiar with the discussions, the meeting took place on Wednesday in a private hotel conference room near the Davos forum, at the same time President Donald Trump was addressing global business leaders at the event.
Also present at the meeting was Israeli President Isaac Herzog, whose country formally recognized Somaliland last month. That move marked a historic milestone for Somaliland, as Israel became the first United Nations member state to grant official recognition to the territory, which has long sought international legitimacy.
During the closed-door talks, Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi presented a range of investment opportunities available in the region. A major focus of the discussion was the Berbera deep-sea port, a strategic facility located along one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes. The port has increasingly been viewed as a potential logistics and trade hub for the Horn of Africa, with access to key shipping lanes linking Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
People familiar with the meeting said the Somaliland leader emphasized the port’s role in boosting regional trade, attracting foreign direct investment, and supporting economic growth in a region that has largely remained peaceful despite instability in the wider Horn of Africa. Somaliland has maintained its own government, currency, and security forces for more than three decades, positioning itself as a stable partner for international investors.
Speaking to Reuters the following day, President Abdullahi confirmed that the meeting had taken place and described it in positive terms. He said the discussions with Eric Trump and President Herzog were productive and signaled growing interest in Somaliland’s economic potential. While he did not disclose specific investment commitments, he noted that the engagement itself was an important step forward for Somaliland’s international outreach.
A spokesperson for Eric Trump did not respond to requests for comment regarding the meeting. Similarly, the White House declined to comment on the discussions or their implications. President Herzog later shared a message on social media saying he was pleased to meet with the Somaliland leader in Davos, though he did not mention Eric Trump in his public remarks.
The meeting came at a time when the Trump Organization has updated its internal ethics rules. During Donald Trump’s first term as U.S. president, the family business had pledged not to pursue new ventures outside the United States to avoid conflicts of interest. However, just days before Trump’s second inauguration, the company revised those guidelines, removing the restriction on foreign business deals.
For Somaliland, the Davos engagement represents another attempt to break out of decades of diplomatic isolation. The region declared independence from Somalia in 1991 after the collapse of the central government and the outbreak of civil war. Since then, Somaliland has built relatively strong institutions and enjoyed greater stability than much of Somalia, yet it remains unrecognized by most of the international community.
Despite this lack of recognition, Somaliland continues to court global partners, arguing that its record of peace, democratic elections, and economic potential make it a credible and reliable actor. The meetings in Davos, particularly those involving high-profile political and business figures, reflect Somaliland’s ongoing effort to gain legitimacy, attract investment, and secure a stronger role in regional and global affairs.