Thursday August 28, 2025
Hargeisa (HOL) — Qatar has donated $3 million to help
drought-affected communities in Somaliland after the region’s anticipated
spring rains failed to arrive, officials said Tuesday.
Somaliland’s Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments,
Abdillahi Dahir Jama Baashe, thanked Doha for the assistance, calling it “a
brotherly gesture” during a time of severe need.
“We express our deep gratitude to the government of Qatar
for this generous contribution to the people of Somaliland,” Baashe said during
a press briefing with members of the drought relief committee.
The donation follows Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed
Abdillahi Irro’s recent visit to Qatar, where he appealed for development
projects and financial support in meetings with senior Qatari officials.
Doha previously had no formal ties with the self-declared
republic, which in 2017 aligned with the UAE and Saudi Arabia during the Gulf
diplomatic rift that saw several countries sever ties with Qatar over
allegations of supporting militant groups.
At the time, Somaliland signed a deal with DP World, the
UAE-based port operator, to upgrade Berbera Port, the airport, and the
strategic road linking Berbera to Wajaale — projects valued at nearly $500
million.
The Somali federal government, by contrast, remained neutral
in the Gulf dispute. Somaliland, however, now appears to be seeking closer
relations with Qatar, a major ally of Mogadishu.