The president of Somaliland came to the World Economic Forum seeking recognition, carrying his country’s quiet ambitions into Davos’s glittering winter halls.
Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi aimed to court global investors, presenting Somaliland as an overlooked gateway to East Africa’s shifting trade routes.
An aide said one pivotal meeting brought him face to face with Eric Trump, a senior executive within the Trump family’s worldwide business empire.
The encounter unfolded in a nearby hotel as Donald Trump addressed global executives, Davos echoing with speeches and private diplomacy.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog also attended, after his country became the first United Nations member to recognise Somaliland last month.
People present said Abdullahi highlighted opportunities around the deep-sea port of Berbera, poised beside one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors.
“The meeting went very well,” Abdullahi told Reuters, confirming discussions with both Eric Trump and Herzog in the Swiss resort.
Eric Trump’s spokeswoman declined to comment, while Herzog later said online he welcomed talks with Somaliland’s leader in Davos.
The Trump Organization recently dropped a ban on foreign deals, altering ethical rules first adopted during Donald Trump’s initial presidency.
Somaliland has remained largely peaceful since 1991, yet still drifts unrecognised, a self-governing state seeking a formal place on the world map.
