Hargeisa, Somaliland(Mogadishu24)–Abdirahman Mohamed Ahmed ‘Irro’, the President-elect of the breakaway Republic of Somaliland, was officially sworn in on Thursday during an inauguration ceremony in Hargeisa. The event was attended by high-level delegations, including the U.S. Ambassador to Somalia, Richard Riley, the Ambassadors from European Union countries, and representatives from Taiwan.

In his inaugural address, President Irro emphasized his commitment to serving the nation equally, beyond tribal or political party interests.
“I am not sworn in for the interest of tribe or political party, but to serve the nation equally,” he declared, calling for unity and progress.

U.S. Ambassador to Somalia Richard Riley commended Somaliland for holding peaceful elections on November 13, which led to Irro’s victory.
“We congratulate Somaliland for its peaceful elections and the new president for his leadership as he takes office,”Riley said.

Among the notable guests was Mustafa M. Omer, President of the Somali Regional State in Ethiopia, reflecting growing engagement between Somaliland and regional actors.

The inauguration ceremony comes at a pivotal time, occurring just hours before Somalia and Ethiopia reached an agreement in Ankara to resolve their 11-month-long conflict over Ethiopia’s controversial port deal with Somaliland.

The peaceful transition of power in Somaliland is seen as a significant step in showcasing its commitment to democratic processes despite its lack of international recognition.