The President of the Republic of Somaliland HE Muse Bihi Abdi is departing today to the neighboring country of Djibouti on an official visit.

Though Somaliland has enjoyed a warm relationship with the Republic of Djibouti in the past and many Somaliland government agencies have a close working relationship with their counterparts in Djibouti, President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh has forged a closer bond with Somalia and its President Mohamed Abdillahi Farmajo.

President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh in Mogadishu on March 2019

Djibouti is Somaliland’s primary strategic and economic rival due to their access to the strait of Bab-el-Mandeb strait and being the supply route to Ethiopia’s landlocked population.

This would be the second visit President Bihi visits Djibouti since assuming office. He has previously visited Djibouti as a Presidential candidate.

Officials in Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation declined to confirm or comment on the President’s visit to Djibouti or provide any details on the President’s Agenda.