The announcement came during a high-level meeting held at the Presidential Palace in Hargeisa on Sunday, where the President of the Republic of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro received the Deputy Ambassador of France to Kenya, Romain Joly, and a large French delegation on an official visit to Somaliland.

President Irro welcomed the French-funded initiative, describing it as a significant contribution to safeguarding Somaliland’s cultural and archaeological heritage.

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He expressed full support for the project, which aims to protect, preserve, and promote key historical sites, including the internationally renowned Laas Geel rock art complex.

Somaliland has a vast number of cultural sites, some of which are used for tourism. Years of conflict in the 1990s, when Somaliland broke away from Somalia, and the instability that followed have put many of these sites at risk, making international support crucial for their protection and promotion.

“We thank the French government for its continued engagement and stated that Somaliland is ready to deepen bilateral cooperation with France across several sectors, including diplomacy, trade, investment, tourism, culture, and knowledge exchange,” said president Irro.

President Irro also highlighted Somaliland’s peaceful environment, political stability, and democratic governance, noting that these factors create a strong foundation for sustainable and mutually beneficial partnerships.

The French delegation included Dr. Xavier Gutherz, an international expert widely recognized for his work in raising global awareness of the historical importance of Laas Geel. In recognition of his and his team’s efforts in preserving Somaliland’s archaeological heritage, President Cirro presented Dr. Gutherz with a Certificate of Honor.

For his part, Deputy Ambassador Romain Joly expressed France’s interest in strengthening ties with Somaliland and reiterated France’s “commitment to supporting cultural heritage preservation”.

He also commended Somaliland’s role in promoting peace and stability in the Horn of Africa.

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