The United States is looking to step up its engagement with Somaliland, as a report presented to US Congress this week reveals Washington is keen to include the breakaway territory in its plans for regional security.
“The U.S. recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, which includes the region of Somaliland.
Within that framework, the United States maintains a positive, constructive relationship with Somaliland and continues to explore additional opportunities for engagement with Somaliland authorities,” begins the State Department report. The Horn of Africa’s security environment remains complex, with ongoing violent extremist threats and regional disputes. Somaliland’s strategic location near Yemen and the Bab al-Mandab Strait positions it as a potential partner on shared security interests, including freedom of commercial and military navigation from the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean. It is also geographically positioned to potentially assist with efforts to monitor and counter violent extremist organizations, particularly connections between Houthi terrorists and Al-Shabaab, Al-Qa’ida’s largest and wealthiest affiliate. AFRICOM has regular engagements with Somaliland authorities and is exploring areas for potential cooperation,” it reads. The report reveals the US embassy in Mogadishu conducts regular visits to Somaliland to “engage on matters of mutual interest.”
On the trade and investment front, the report states Somaliland offers ample opportunities, including for landlocked Ethiopia, but Hargeisa’s refusal to cooperate with Mogadishu complicates the potential for international investment.
Somaliland authorities have encouraged US investment in minerals and outlined priorities in infrastructure, trade, and economic growth. Somaliland’s ports represent potential alternatives to other congested regional facilities. The ongoing development of the Berbera airport and seaports into a trade and transportation hub for Somaliland and landlocked Ethiopia could create increased opportunities for US investment in infrastructure, exports, and other commercial opportunities. However, regional security concerns and the dispute over Somaliland’s status, including its refusal to cooperate with national authorities, present challenges for investment, banking, and trade,” reads the report.
The Reporter
