Somaliland, which proclaimed independence from Somalia in 1991, is lobbying the United States for its support in gaining international recognition. It says it is willing to offer the US a strategic military base at the entrance to the Red Sea and critical-minerals as part of the deal.
Despite its relative stability and regular democratic elections, Somaliland, which is home to about five million people, is yet to be recognized as independent by a single nation.
While the US currently acknowledges Somalia’s claim to the territory, Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi is lobbying Washington for support.
Abdullahi says talks with the US Embassy in Somalia and the Department of Defence are aimed at securing a new partnership with Washington, including in terms of economic cooperation, security, and counter-terrorism.
The president, who came to power in the mineral-rich region in 2024, says US military officials, including the Horn of Africa’s most senior officer, have recently visited Hargeisa. Recognizing strategically placed Somaliland would strengthen the US’ foothold in the Horn of Africa, which is an increasingly important region.
Somaliland, officially the Republic of Somaliland, is an unrecognized country in the Horn of Africa. It is located in the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden and bordered by Djibouti to the northwest, Ethiopia to the south and west, and Somalia to the east. Its claimed territory has an area of 176,120 square kilometres (68,000 square miles), with approximately 6.2 million people as of 2024. The capital and largest city is Hargeisa.
The country is rich in natural resources, including gemstones, gold, iron ore, tin, and lead. Industrial minerals like gypsum, marble, and various types of decorative stones are also found there, according to the Somaliland Ministry of Investment and Industrial Development.
Since 1991, the territory has been governed by democratically elected governments that seek international recognition as the government of the Republic of Somaliland. The central government maintains informal ties with some foreign governments, who have continuously sent delegations to Hargeisa; Somaliland hosts representative offices from several countries, including Ethiopia and Taiwan. However, Somaliland’s self-proclaimed independence has not been officially recognized by any UN member state or international organization. It is the largest unrecognized state in the world by de facto controlled land area. It is a member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization UNPO, an advocacy group whose members consist of indigenous peoples, minorities and unrecognized or occupied territories. Following the Las Anod conflict that emerged in 2022, Somaliland lost control of a significant portion of its eastern territory to pro-unionist forces who established the SSC-Khatumo administration.
Additional Source: Africa News
