Somaliland is offering the United States access to a Red Sea military base and valuable critical minerals in exchange for official recognition. Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991 and has since enjoyed relative political stability through democratic elections. Yet, no country has formally recognized its independence. President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, who assumed office in 2024, seeks to change this. He is pushing for a new strategic alliance with Washington focused on security, counterterrorism, and economic cooperation to achieve his goals. Currently, talks are ongoing with the US Embassy in Somalia and the Department of Defense, with senior US military officials recently visiting Hargeisa. For Washington, recognizing Somaliland’s independence could offer the US a stronger strategic foothold in the increasingly vital Horn of Africa.
Africa News
