Bellow is an article published by Somalilandgov:

President of the Republic of Somaliland Ahmed Mahamoud Silanyo will visit Washington, D.C. from Monday, April 22, 2013 through Saturday, April 27, 2013. During the visit, President Silanyo will meet with a number of U.S. officials, Members of Congress and others. President Silanyo will speak at several events, most notably a major policy address at The Atlantic Council on Monday, April 22.

“I look forward to visiting Washington for the first time in an official capacity as Somaliland’s President,” said President Silanyo in advance of his departure. “Somaliland and the U.S. have a long history of partnership and positive relations, beginning with the congratulatory telegram sent by the Eisenhower Administration upon Somaliland’s declaration of independence on June 26, 1960. This visit is vitally important as our nation continues to seek recognition across the globe as a peaceful, democratic, independent state.”

On Monday, April 22, 2013, President Silanyo will give his official policy speech at the Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C. at 10 a.m. Throughout the week he will meet with U.S. officials including Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman and Undersecretary of State for African Affairs Donald Yamamato; United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Administrator Donald Steinberg and Assistant Administrator for Africa Earl W. Gast, and; Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict Michael Sheehan and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs Amanda J. Dory. The President will also meet with Members of Congress to provide Somaliland’s perspective on recent events in the region. The President will conclude his visit by meeting with Somaliland expatriates residing in the U.S.

Having chosen in 1960 to unite with the also newly-independent Somalia, Somaliland has re-asserted its independent sovereign status since the 1991 collapse of the Somali government. Since 1991 Somaliland has enjoyed relative stability and democratic governance despite the enduring turmoil to its south.

Developments in the Horn of Africa over the past several months and recent U.S. recognition of the new government in Mogadishu – combined with last weekend’s historic meeting in Turkey between President Silanyo and Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud – make the upcoming visit to Washington, D.C. by Somaliland’s President and key cabinet ministers especially timely.

The President will be accompanied by First Lady Amina Haji Muhammad Jirde and a delegation including:

Minister of Presidential Affairs Hersi Ali H. Hassan Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Abdullahi Omar Minister of Finance Osman Abdillahi Sahardid Minister of Planning Dr. Sa´ad Ali Shire Minister of Mining, Energy & Water Resources Hussein Abdi Dualeh Peace, Unity, and Development Party Chairman Muuse Biihi Abdi