Hiiraan Online

Mogadishu (HOL) — U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested his administration may recognize Somaliland as an independent state, a move that could reshape U.S. policy in the Horn of Africa and challenge China, Russia, and militant groups active in the region.

Trump’s remarks came on Aug. 8 during an Oval Office event when he was asked about Somaliland. “We’re looking into that right now … We’re working on that right now, Somaliland,” he said.

Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but remains unrecognized internationally, has reportedly offered Washington access to its port and airfield in Berbera on the Gulf of Aden. The facilities sit along one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes and opposite Yemen’s Houthi-controlled coast, giving them major strategic value. The airstrip nearby is among the longest in Africa, capable of supporting U.S. military aircraft.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa, has pressed for recognition, calling Somaliland a “critical security and diplomatic partner” and arguing that it could help counter Beijing and Moscow’s growing presence in the region. “Somaliland has been a reliable ally to the United States … They’re a Muslim country, in a very dangerous part of Africa, showing real courage,” Cruz said.

The Federal Government of Somalia strongly opposes recognition, insisting Somaliland remains part of its territory. U.S. policy aligns with Mogadishu’s position. “The United States recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, which includes the territory of Somaliland,” a State Department spokesperson said, adding Washington is not in active discussions on recognition.

Still, U.S. officials, including Ambassador Richard Riley, have met Somaliland leaders multiple times this year, and President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi is expected to visit Washington. In May, Abdullahi told the Guardian that recognition is “on the horizon … a matter of time, not if but when.”

Not all U.S. officials support rapid recognition. Former U.S. Ambassador to Somalia Larry André has urged Washington to proceed carefully, warning that unilateral recognition could destabilize the Horn of Africa and damage ties with regional partners. He advised that the U.S. consult with Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, Uganda, and the African Union before making any move.

Instead, André proposed a “middle ground” approach: opening a U.S. diplomatic office in Hargeisa while keeping the embassy in Mogadishu, allowing dialogue with both sides. He cautioned that recognition could fuel clan tensions and alienate many Somalis who support unity, stressing instead the need for a lasting, negotiated settlement between Mogadishu and Hargeisa.

Somaliland’s newly elected president, Irro, has made international recognition the defining goal of his administration. Speaking in Berbera on earlier this month, he told elders, “Somaliland has waited for decades. Much has been achieved before me, but I will be the one to finish this task.”

Somalia continues to battle al-Shabab and Islamic State-linked fighters, with U.S. Africa Command carrying out regular airstrikes in support of Somali forces. Somaliland, meanwhile, promotes its stability and alignment with Western allies as evidence of its value, while also offering access to rare earth minerals essential for high-tech industries.

The Berbera port and airfield have also drawn interest from Russia and China. Many warn that any U.S. shift toward Somaliland could escalate tensions with Mogadishu while reshaping alliances in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.