Berbera — Somaliland President Dahir Riyale told a press conference in the Gulf of Aden port city of Berbera that his trip to Kuwait City was successful.

"I met with Kuwaiti leaders and we discussed support for development programs," said Mr. Riyale, who was accompanied by Education Minister Hassan Haji Mohamud to Kuwait.

He indicated that Kuwaiti leaders have promised to establish development programs in the education and healthcare sectors, telling reporters that the new programs will begin soon.

It was the first trip to Kuwait by a Somaliland leader since the region in northwestern Somalia unilaterally declared independence in 1991. Somaliland has not been recognized internationally.