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 Somaliland |  United States |
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Somaliland and theUnited States do not have official diplomatic relations. While Somaliland operates a representative liaison office inWashington, D.C., it does not have formal diplomatic status that states are entitled to under the provisions of theVienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.[1] There has been contact between them as delegations from both sides have met in the past.
The U.S. policy regarding Somaliland is to first allow theAfrican Union to deliberate the question regarding the status of Somaliland as an independent nation. The United States engages Somaliland on policy matters such as democratization and economic development.
In June 1960, during its brief period of independence,Somaliland garnered recognition from thirty-five sovereign states.[2] However, the United States merely acknowledged Somaliland's independence:
The United States did not extend formal recognition to Somaliland, but Secretary of State Herter sent a congratulatory message dated June 26 to the Somaliland Council of Ministers.[3]
United States Secretary of StateChristian Herter sent the following letter:
- June 26, 1960
- Their Excellencies,
- Council of Ministers of Somaliland, Hargeisa.
- Your Excellencies: I extend my best wishes and congratulations on the achievement of your independence. This is a noteworthy milestone in your history, and it is with pleasure that I send
- my warmest regards on this happy occasion.
- Christian a. Herter
- Secretary of State, United States of America.
In 2007, the United States provided one million dollars in aid through theInternational Republican Institute to support training for parliamentarians and other key programs in preparations for the2010 presidential election. The U.S. expected to provide an additional one point five million in continued support for the democratization process in Somaliland following the elections.[5]
From March 20 to March 28, 2010, a delegation of Somaliland senior ministers and parliamentarians visited the United States on an invitation from the U.S. The delegation met with senior officials of theNational Security Council in the Executive Building of theWhite House. The delegation had multiple discussions with the leadership of theState Department's Africa Bureau including theAssistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African affairs, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Africa. The meetings were also attended by senior officials from theU.S. Department of Defense and other relevant U.S. government bureaus and agencies. Both nations explored Somaliland's political status in light of the Djibouti Peace Process. Discussions revolved around religious extremism, terrorism, piracy, and the lack of adequate social and economic development. The U.S. side pledged its support and agreed to the creation of a joint follow-up group to monitor progress made. The delegation also had discussions with US-based private and non-profit organizations and multilateral donors such asUSAID and theWorld Bank. The delegation emphasized areas that have the greatest impact on people's daily existence, such as clean potable water, improved agriculture, health, education, and rural development. The delegation concluded its visit meeting with the Somaliland community in Washington D.C.[6]
On September 24, 2010,Johnnie Carson, the then-Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, stated that the United States would be modifying its strategy in Somalia and would seek deeper engagement with the governments of Somaliland and Puntland while continuing to support the Somali Transitional Government.[7] Carson said the U.S. would send aid workers and diplomats toPuntland and Somaliland and alluded to the possibility of future development projects. However, Carson emphasized that the U.S. would not extend formal recognition to either region.[8]
In June 2014, Somaliland and the USAID inaugurated a new wind energy project atHargeisa Airport. The new wind power facility is under the authority of the Somaliland Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, which will manage it through a public-private partnership and oversee its daily operations. The initiative is part of the larger Partnership for Economic Growth, a bilateral program that has invested over fourteen million dollars in Somaliland's energy, livestock and agriculture sectors as well as in private sector development. The partnership aims, in particular, to establish local renewable energy technologies, with the new wind energy facility expected to offer a more cost-effective alternative to diesel fuel. It is also slated to provide power to both the Hargeisa airport and the surrounding communities.[9] The investment in building the airport came as a result of the USAID investing nearly fifty million dollars in Somaliland since 2010 in areas such as community stabilization, governance, education, health, and economic growth.
In August 2020, the United States praised Somaliland andTaiwan for formalizing relations. In a tweet from the National Security Council's archived Twitter account from the then-Trump administration, it stated, "Great to see #Taiwan stepping up its engagement in East #Africa in a time of such tremendous need. #Taiwan is a great partner in health, education, technical assistance, and more!"[10]
In November 2021, for the first time members of theUnited States Congress met with a Somaliland delegation at theUnited States Capitol. Bashir Goth, the leader of the delegation who is the head of Somaliland's representative office inAlexandria, Virginia stated the purpose of the visit, "We have come to the U.S. to show them that we have the same enemy, and our long-term strategy is we want to be closer to democracies and market economies like the U.S. We are countering China [and] the Chinese influence in the Horn of Africa and we deserve [U.S. government] help." The delegation included Foreign MinisterEssa Kayd and special envoyEdna Adan Ismail, the former Foreign Minister of Somaliland. One of the goals of the delegation was advocating for the U.S. to remove Somaliland from its inclusion in the State Department's "Level 4: Do not travel" classification for Somalia. Staffers for SenatorsJim Risch,Lindsey Graham, and RepresentativesChris Smith,Kay Granger, andMichael McCaul embarked on a fact-finding mission to find the strategic value of interacting with officials from Somaliland to counter China's reach in Africa which they concurred when they returned back home after they visited Somaliland the following month in December. American federal agencies that met with the delegation, USAID, Department of Defense, and theState Department. According to the State Department they, "expressed a willingness to explore opportunities to cooperate with Somaliland on issues of mutual interest." But the agencies made reference to Somaliland's strained relationship with Somalia and support for the "territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia" and urged a "mutually acceptable solution on the question of Somaliland's status." The meetings also did not discuss potential American military personnel or equipment.[11][12]
President of Somaliland,Muse Bihi Abdi visited the United States on March 14, 2022, marking the first time a leader of either country made a formal visit to the respective nations. Both Abdi and Foreign Minister Essa Kayd met with members of Congress and Biden administration officials. Bihi suggested the U.S. could open a diplomatic office in Somaliland's capital ofHargeisa.[13] Both sides urged closer cooperation, but the U.S. stopped short of recognizing Somaliland. American officials fear recognizing Somaliland would destabilize relations with Somalia, other African nations, and the African Union. And that it may further escalate theongoing conflict in Somalia.[14] Abdi spoke at an event hosted byThe Heritage Foundation arguing for closer ties and recognition from the U.S.[15]
After meeting with Abdi and Kayd, CongressmanScott Perry (R‑PA 10th) introduced legislation to formally recognize Somaliland titled "Republic of Somaliland Independence Act".[16] In March 2022, a watered-down version of the bill titled the "Somaliland Partnership Act" was introduced by SenatorJim Risch (R‑ID). While it did not explicitly recognize Somaliland as an independent country, it required "theDepartment of State to report to Congress on engagement with Somaliland". Additionally, the bill mandated a "feasibility study, in consultation with theSecretary of Defense, regarding the establishment of a partnership between the United States and Somaliland."[17][18][19] Neither act became law but the Somaliland Partnership Act passed theSenate Foreign Relations Committee with bipartisan support.[20][21][22]
On May 12, 2022,Larry André Jr., theAmerican ambassador to Somalia, and GeneralStephen J. Townsend, Commander of theUnited States Africa Command met with Abdi in Hargeisa in what was described as the U.S not promoting the "secessionist ideology being pushed by Somaliland" in the context of the2022 Somaliland presidential election and continuing the "single Somalia policy" while urging close cooperation between Somalia and Somaliland.[23]
FollowingDonald Trump's victory in the2024 United States presidential election, former British defence secretaryGavin Williamson stated in an interview that, after lobbying on behalf of the country, he expected the president-elect would see to the recognition of Somaliland during his presidency.[24]
In January 2025, theU.S. House Select Committee on the CCP urged theState Department to establish a representative office in Somaliland in order to counter China's growing influence in theHorn of Africa. ChairmanJohn Moolenaar (R‑MI 2nd) argued that such a move is vital for advancing U.S. strategic interests in the region. He noted that without U.S. engagement, China might sway Somaliland's interests, further consolidating its presence around theRed Sea. The committee highlighted that establishing an office inHargeisa would not conflict with the U.S.'s current recognition of Somalia's government.[25]
In March 2025, Somaliland rejected an offer fromSomalia's government to grant the United States exclusive control over strategic facilities inBerbera, a port city located on theGulf of Aden. Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, maintains that these facilities are not forMogadishu to dispose of. The proposal, made bySomali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in a letter toUS President Donald Trump, included control over airbases and ports inSomalia and Somaliland to bolster US security efforts in the region. Somaliland’s Foreign Minister Abdirahman Dahir Adan dismissed the offer as "desperate," asserting that Somaliland’s growing independence would eventually lead to international recognition.[26][27]
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