𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝’𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞

𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚, 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒕𝒉.

𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝’𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲

Somaliland’s 850-kilometre coastline is more than a geographic feature. Overlooking the Gulf of Aden and the route linking the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, it is a national asset with major implications for security, trade, fisheries, investment, and jobs. The Port of Berbera adds to this opportunity by connecting Somaliland to regional and global markets.

Yet geography alone does not create prosperity. Somaliland needs coherent maritime governance: clear laws, coordinated institutions, credible enforcement, reliable data, and responsible management of marine resources. A Somaliland Maritime Authority (SMA), or an equivalent national framework, could bring these elements together while building on the institutions already in place. Without this integration, Somaliland risks leaving economic value unrealized while remaining more exposed to illegal activity, environmental damage, and costly maritime emergencies.

𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

Somaliland is not starting from zero. The Ports Authority, Coast Guard, fisheries authorities, and Maritime Security Coordination Office (MSCO) and newly trained maritime professionals already fulfill key maritime functions, while the Ports Authority Law No. 94/2021 provides a legal basis for port administration. A drafts maritime zones frameworks, policy and authority act have also been developed. The main challenge is fragmentation: overlapping mandates, regulatory gaps, and limited coordination, information-sharing, resources, and implementation capacity.

The government should begin with an independent institutional and legal review. It should map responsibilities, identify gaps, assess capacity, and recommend whether a new authority or a strengthened coordination model would work best. Any SMA must complement existing agencies—not duplicate their work, absorb functions indiscriminately, or create avoidable costs and competition.

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

Effective governance would improve port- and flag-state functions, help combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, reduce navigational risks, protect port infrastructure, and support action against maritime crime. It would also provide a clearer foundation for search and rescue, incident reporting, emergency coordination, and marine-pollution response.

Somaliland’s framework can draw on relevant international maritime principles and standards, including UNCLOS, SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, the ISM Code, COLREG, and the Load Lines Convention.

Although Somaliland is not a party to UNCLOS, aligning domestic laws and procedures with appropriate standards can improve maritime safety, environmental protection, professional training, and cooperation, while supporting engagement with International Maritime Organization (IMO), drawing on Taiwan’s model. Law-enforcement powers should remain with legally authorized bodies, with responsibilities clearly defined in legislation.

𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝-𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡

Better governance can turn maritime potential into wider economic gains. Efficient shipping services, stronger port connectivity, sustainable fisheries, coastal tourism, and marine-related investment can generate employment, diversify public revenue, and expand private-sector opportunities.

A national maritime institution could make licensing more transparent, regulatory procedures more predictable, and maritime data more dependable. It could coordinate research and bring government, coastal communities, and businesses into a clearer decision-making process. Supporting artisanal fishers, protecting marine ecosystems, combating illegal fishing, and improving market access should be central priorities. Maritime governance is therefore not simply administrative reform; it is economic infrastructure.

𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭

If Somaliland creates an SMA, it needs a precise statutory mandate, qualified technical staff, sustainable funding, and transparent accountability. Its responsibilities could include national maritime policy coordination, maritime information management, regulatory standards for vessels and services where legally assigned, environmental compliance, safety oversight, and sector-performance monitoring.

The establishing law should define the authority’s relationship with the Ports Authority, Coast Guard, fisheries bodies, ministries, and other agencies. A dedicated budget, transparent procurement, appropriate independent oversight, stakeholder consultation, and regular public reporting would help prevent mission creep and build confidence that public funds are producing results.

𝐀 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞: 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧. Conduct the institutional and legal review, clarify mandates, develop the operating model, mobilize resources, and establish interagency coordination. Engage relevant international partners and maritime organizations for technical support.

𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐰𝐨: 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩. Create the authority or agreed national framework, recruit qualified professionals, improve maritime surveillance and information systems, and strengthen safety, emergency response, environmental protection, and fisheries monitoring.

𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞: 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝. Evaluate results, close remaining capacity gaps, deepen international cooperation, and strengthen Somaliland’s credibility as a maritime-security and maritime-services partner.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Implementation should be tied to realistic budgets, named responsibilities, annual targets, deadlines, and regular progress reviews. The goal is not simply to create another institution. It is to build a coordinated, professional system that protects national interests, supports commerce, safeguards coastal communities, and manages marine resources for the long term. With disciplined design and phased implementation, maritime reform can become a practical investment in sovereignty, resilience, and shared prosperity.

𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫

Abib Ahmed Hirsi is a peacebuilding and maritime-security specialist with more than 30 years of experience in humanitarian and development work focused on the Horn of Africa and regional security