Last month, a senior U.S. military and diplomatic delegation visited Somaliland for high-level security discussions and an inspection of key strategic infrastructure along the Red Sea corridor. Somaliland President Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Irro) hosted the delegation at the Presidential Palace in Hargeisa, where he met with United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) Commander Gen. Dagvin R. M. Anderson, U.S. Deputy Ambassador Justin Davis, and accompanying officials for an extensive strategic dialogue.
The visit underscored something Washington already knows but has been reluctant to articulate openly: the U.S. military recognizes Somaliland’s strategic and governance value. The AFRICOM delegation’s meetings with Somaliland leaders reaffirmed that Hargeisa sits on one of the most strategic geographic corridors in Africa—overlooking the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb strait—at a time when global powers are intensifying competition for influence. This engagement is a functional reality, advanced by high-level figures like U.S. Ambassador Richard Riley and former AFRICOM Commander General Michael Langley. Yet security recognition is only the surface. Beneath it lies a deeper truth the U.S. has consistently failed to leverage: Somaliland is one of Africa’s few functioning liberal democracies, a governance model that has consistently outperformed the region for more than 30 years.
Somaliland’s blueprint for stability, strategic relevance
The stability of Somaliland is not a historical accident; it is the deliberate result of decades of institutional maturity. The people of Somaliland have built a democratic system rooted in peaceful transitions, multi-party competition, and regular elections monitored by international observers. This success is underpinned by a robust civil society and the unique integration of traditional clan elders (the Guurti) with modern constitutional governance, ensuring political crises are resolved through dialogue, not violence. Outlets such as Addis Standard consistently highlight its democratic resilience even in moments of political tension.
This democratic orientation sets Somaliland apart at a moment when authoritarian influence is expanding across much of Africa. China has deepened its regional military and commercial footprints, most notably in nearby Djibouti. Russia and Middle Eastern actors have similarly increased their presence. In this shifting landscape, Somaliland stands almost alone as a self-made democracy seeking deeper cooperation with Western institutions. Its constitution, its party system, and its civic norms reflect a society that consciously identifies with the United States and democratic Europe, a cultural and political affinity that is an invaluable asset.
Washington’s hesitation contrasts sharply with the pragmatic posture of other global actors. The UAE, through DP World, recognized the strategic necessity and economic potential of Somaliland years ago. It embarked on a major expansion of Berbera Port—transforming it into a rapidly ascending commercial and strategic hub.
Berbera is central to U.S. strategic thinking because it provides a critically needed logistical alternative to the congested and politically complex U.S. base in Djibouti. This is a direct response to China’s first overseas military base, located in Djibouti, less than 200 miles away. Somaliland offers the U.S. an opportunity to secure a vital footprint outside of Beijing’s political or military orbit, ensuring logistical resilience and monitoring capabilities for the volatile Bab el-Mandeb strait, through which between 12% and 20% of global trade passes. Ethiopia’s vital interest in the Berbera corridor continues to further underscore the port’s indispensable role in regional connectivity.
Mogadishu’s malice, Washington’s mandate
The diplomatic backdrop to AFRICOM’s engagement is not merely passive disagreement but active economic sabotage orchestrated by the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS). In a clear policy escalation, Mogadishu has shifted from diplomatic protest to targeted economic warfare against Somaliland.
The Somaliland government has vehemently denounced these latest acts, which constitute a deliberate economic proxy war aimed at undermining its stability and lawful governance. This aggression has been executed through a coordinated diplomatic offensive targeting the very pillars of Somaliland’s economic independence: its airspace and its primary port. Specifically, the Somalia government dispatched delegations to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal to challenge Somaliland’s administration of its sovereign airspace and to marine insurers in London with the malicious goal of illegally sabotaging the operations and legitimacy of Berbera Port.
These maneuvers are not acts of a government seeking reconciliation or cooperation; they are the desperate attempts of a regime intent on undermining the stability and economic viability of its neighbor. Somaliland correctly denounces these brazen violations of its territorial integrity and economic rights, calling upon the international community and relevant maritime authorities to reject these malicious attempts at interference. This FGS campaign highlights the instability that the U.S. must contend with and underscores why U.S. security partnerships must be independent of Mogadishu’s obstructive political priorities.
The United States Congress has not been silent. American policymakers clearly understand Somaliland’s importance, reflected in legislation accessible on Congress.gov. The Somaliland Partnership Act, which was incorporated into the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2023, explicitly mandated the Department of Defense and State Department to conduct feasibility studies on enhanced security cooperation.
Crucially, this legislation requires U.S. policy to treat cooperation with Hargeisa as “separate and distinct” from engagements with the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS). This legislative firewall is the mechanism that allows AFRICOM to advance cooperation by largely bypassing Mogadishu’s political veto, demonstrating that U.S. strategic interests are dictating a policy that outpaces its diplomatic formalities.
The contrast with Somalia is stark. Independent outlets consistently highlight the political volatility in Mogadishu, where the FGS has been unable to secure much of its own territory without heavy reliance on foreign support. While Washington continues to invest heavily in Somalia for reasons of counterterrorism, it has failed to capitalize on Somaliland’s stability, despite its proven reliability as a security partner.
Why Somaliland cannot be ignored any longer
Somaliland’s track record speaks for itself. It has kept its territory free from extremist control for more than three decades. It maintains one of the most capable intelligence and counterterrorism structures in the region. It secures a coastline that stretches along some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.
Yet Somaliland has not been asking for charity, nor demanding recognition from Washington. Instead, it has made a simple, strategic case: if the U.S. is serious about stabilizing the Red Sea corridor, countering extremism, and ensuring the free flow of commerce, Somaliland is an irreplaceable partner.
The recent AFRICOM visit confirms the U.S. military understands this reality. But military recognition without political follow-through leaves U.S. strategy both incomplete and unbalanced. The people and government of Somaliland have repeatedly expressed a desire for deeper ties with the United States, viewing America as their natural ally.
If the U.S. continues to overlook this natural alignment, it will be more than a diplomatic miscalculation; it will be a strategic failure. Somaliland has already demonstrated its openness to alternative partnerships when traditional allies hesitate. The region is increasingly competitive, and partners who hesitate risk losing influence permanently.
For the United States, this is not simply about recognizing Somaliland’s aspirations; it is about aligning American interests with the realities already shaping the Horn of Africa. Washington cannot continue to rely on outdated assumptions that treat Somaliland as a peripheral issue in Somalia policy. Somaliland is not peripheral. It is central.
Somaliland is a democratic outpost in a strategically vital region. It is a partner that shares American values and has demonstrated its reliability through three decades of self-governance. The moment demands clarity, courage, and strategic vision. Somaliland has already taken the first steps. America must decide whether it is willing to meet them halfway. AS
Editor’s Note: Adam Daud Ahmed is a political and security analyst specializing in the Horn of Africa. His expertise encompasses geopolitics, counter-terrorism, and democratization across the East African region. He can be reached at keysar28@gmail.com
