Saturday September 20, 2025
Somali Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Omar Ali (left) and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (right). Balcad met Cruz, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa, in Washington on Saturday. Cruz has been a vocal supporter of U.S. recognition of Somaliland, while Balcad highlighted Somalia’s security partnership with the United States.Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s deputy foreign minister, Ali Omar Ali (Balcad), met Saturday with U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican lawmaker pushing for Washington to formally recognize Somaliland.
Balcad thanked the senator for U.S. engagement, portraying Somalia as both a frontline state and a strategic partner in a turbulent region.
“U.S. support is vital to defeating Al-Shabaab & ISIS, ensuring trade routes stay safe,” Balcad said. “Let’s strengthen our partnership for a stable, prosperous Somalia.” He did not confirm whether the Somaliland recognition was raised.
The meeting comes as Somalia’s war against al-Shabab remains unsettled, with gains from a 2022 clan-backed offensive
giving way to renewed insurgent pressure in central regions. In February 2025, the militants launched major offensives in Middle and Lower Shabelle, Adale and Bulo Burde; U.S. airstrikes have continued into September targeting al-Shabab.
The meeting also brought Ali Omar Balcad face-to-face with one of the most high-profile figures in Washington’s foreign policy establishment. Senator Ted Cruz, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa, has been a vocal supporter of U.S. recognition of Somaliland. Balcad says that he focused on Somalia’s security partnership with the United States during the meeting, portraying his country as a frontline ally against militant groups in the Horn of Africa.
Cruz has become one of the most prominent U.S. lawmakers advocating recognition.
In an Aug. 14 letter to President Donald Trump, he described Somaliland as a “critical security and diplomatic partner,” citing its peaceful elections, location on the Gulf of Aden, and
willingness to host a U.S. military base near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. He also pointed to potential agreements on
critical minerals such as lithium and praised Somaliland’s ties with Taiwan and support for the Abraham Accords.
The senator has also accused China of
backing Mogadishu to block Somaliland’s ambitions, pointing to Somalia’s
recent ban on travellers carrying Taiwanese passports. Cruz said Somaliland could help counter Beijing and Moscow’s growing influence in the Horn of Africa, adding, “They’re a Muslim country, in a very dangerous part of Africa, showing real courage.
Trump appeared to signal openness. On Aug. 8, during an Oval Office signing ceremony, Trump was asked about recognizing Somaliland and a controversial idea to relocate Palestinians from
Gaza to Somaliland. He replied, “We’re looking into that right now … We’re working on that right now, Somaliland.” In the weeks around those remarks, U.S. and Israeli officials were reported to have explored third-country options for Gazans, including Somalia and Somaliland.
Trump’s comments followed Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro’s
declaration that achieving recognition would be the defining goal of his presidency. Irro has offered Washington use of Berbera’s port and airfield, while also promoting cooperation on security and mineral resources. U.S. officials, including Ambassador Richard Riley, have already met Somaliland leaders multiple times this year.
Trump has suggested his administration may recognize Somaliland
to counter to China and Russia in the Red Sea corridor.
The Somali government quickly
condemned Cruz’s letter and has rejected calls for recognition, maintaining that territorial unity is essential for national stability. Mogadishu has reportedly offered U.S. officials access to Somali ports, including Berbera and Bosaso, in a bid to dissuade any shift toward Hargeisa.
Washington’s official position remains unchanged. A State Department spokesperson reiterated last month that “the United States recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, which includes the territory of Somaliland,” adding that the administration is not in active discussions on recognition.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Somalia Larry André has
warned that unilateral recognition could destabilize the Horn of Africa and alienate regional allies. He has suggested a “middle ground,” such as opening a U.S. diplomatic office in Hargeisa while keeping the embassy in Mogadishu.
Somaliland, which enjoys relative peace and a record of competitive elections, declared independence in 1991 but has not been recognized by any country.