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India Today
16 hours ago
- Business
- India Today
Somaliland's bold bid: Military access, critical minerals, and a long-awaited shot at recognition
In the Horn of Africa, a diplomatic gamble is taking shape that could redraw strategic lines in one of the world's most contested maritime zones. Somaliland, a self-declared republic unrecognised by any UN member state, is offering the United States something it can ill afford to ignore: access to a coveted stretch of Red Sea coastline and rights to valuable mineral deposits, including lithium, in exchange for what it has been seeking for over three decades — formal For the 5.7 million people who live here, independence is not a theoretical aspiration but a political reality since 1991. Yet on most maps, Somaliland still appears as part of Somalia. Now, under President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, the territory is proposing an audacious deal to Washington, one that could recast its role in global geopolitics. A coastline of consequenceThe offer is deceptively straightforward: the US gains a prime military foothold near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, while Somaliland secures recognition. This narrow maritime chokepoint links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, through which roughly a third of global seaborne trade Houthi rebel attacks on shipping have disrupted trade and inflated insurance costs. For Washington, the prospect of securing a monitoring base in Somaliland, out of reach of adversarial influence and within striking distance of a major shipping artery, is a tempting strategic and leverageBeyond military positioning, Somaliland is dangling another prize: untapped mineral wealth. Geological surveys suggest deposits of lithium, a key component in batteries for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage, alongside tin, gold, gemstones and industrial potential economic outcomes are starkly different. An extract-and-export model would bring royalties and jobs but risk locking Somaliland into a familiar trap: resource dependency without long-term industrial growth. By contrast, developing local refining and manufacturing could transform the economy, expand employment, and embed the country into global supply is where geopolitics sharpens the offer. By securing lithium access with guarantees on responsible mining and supply stability, Somaliland could become a key link in Western efforts to reduce dependence on strategic minerals from protectorate to pariahSomaliland's current path was shaped by a turbulent history. Once the British Protectorate of Somaliland, it gained independence on 26 June 1960 before voluntarily uniting with Italian Somaliland to form Somalia. Discontent grew under centralised rule from Mogadishu, culminating in brutal campaigns against the Isaaq clan during Siad Barre's dictatorship — violence that many consider Barre fell in 1991, Somaliland broke away, choosing stability over Somalia's subsequent decades of turmoil. It built governance structures from the ground up, approved a new constitution in 2001, and has since held multiple peaceful elections, including a 2024 vote that saw Abdullahi's Waddani party take power, one of the few non-violent opposition victories in Africa that democracy has not brought prosperity. The economy, worth around $7 billion in 2022, depends heavily on remittances. International loans and aid from bodies like the World Bank remain inaccessible due to its unrecognised investment and failed dealsDespite these hurdles, Somaliland has attracted strategic investment. In 2016, DP World took over management of the Port of Berbera, later partnering with Ethiopia. A more recent 2024 deal to grant Ethiopia a 50-year lease on part of Somaliland's coastline in exchange for recognition collapsed after Mogadishu and Addis Ababa mended ties under Turkish diplomatic setback has likely influenced Hargeisa's decision to turn to Washington. The US already maintains a heavy military presence in Djibouti, but the crowded, costly port city is also home to China's first overseas base which is a constant reminder of great power rivalry. Somaliland's location offers an alternative, free from Beijing's direct recognition roadblockReports indicate that US-Somaliland talks over partial recognition and base access have been ongoing since March 2025. But formal recognition faces major obstacles. Washington, like the African Union, officially supports a 'One Somalia' policy, wary of encouraging separatist movements across the federal government strongly opposes Somaliland's independence, and from a counter-terrorism standpoint, the US is reluctant to weaken Mogadishu's authority in the fight against Al-Shabaab. In recent African history, only Eritrea and South Sudan have achieved widely accepted statehood after these constraints, President Abdullahi has floated a phased approach: deepen military and economic ties first, and push for formal diplomatic recognition between powersThe timing of Somaliland's overture is no accident. The Horn of Africa has become a focal point for global competition. The UAE is entrenched at Berbera, China is in Djibouti, and US-China tensions are playing out in the shipping lanes of the Red Sea. For Washington, aligning with a relatively democratic, pro-Western Somaliland could strengthen supply chains, bolster maritime security, and counter Chinese influence, all without the political baggage of stakes for SomalilandFor Hargeisa, the stakes could not be higher. A US security partnership and resource deal could transform its economic and diplomatic fortunes. But failure could mean continued limbo: stable, functional, but invisible on the world thirty-four years of surviving without recognition, Somaliland is making its boldest move yet. In an era defined by strategic competition, it is betting that the right deal, at the right moment, might finally turn survival into sovereignty.- Ends
Business Insider
30-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Breakaway African region courts U.S. with military base, minerals in push for recognition
Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, is offering the United States a military base near the mouth of the Red Sea and access to critical minerals as part of its bid for international recognition. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and seeks U.S. recognition offering strategic cooperation. Somaliland's president is negotiating with U.S. officials for military and economic partnerships amid African geopolitics. Somaliland claims to provide security benefits, highlighting its peaceful status compared to Somalia's instability. Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, is offering the United States a military base near the mouth of the Red Sea and access to critical minerals as part of its bid for international recognition. Although Washington continues to recognise Somalia's sovereignty over the territory, Somaliland's President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi is actively courting US support, positioning the semi-autonomous region in the broader contest for strategic influence and resources in Africa, as both China and the US seek to deepen their footprint on the continent, according to a Bloomberg report. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, who took office as president of Somaliland in 2024, said his administration is in talks with the U.S. Embassy in Somalia and the Department of Defence to forge new partnerships focused on security, counter-terrorism, and economic cooperation. Somaliland has sought international recognition since declaring independence from Somalia in 1991. While Somalia has endured decades of civil war and Islamist insurgency, Somaliland has remained largely peaceful, making it an appealing partner for foreign powers looking to bolster regional security. ' If the US is interested to land in Somaliland they are most welcome,' Abdullahi said, adding he would be prepared to offer the US a critical-minerals deal for products such as lithium. Strategic stakes at the Red Sea gateway Recognising Somaliland could bolster America's strategic positioning at the Red Sea's gateway, where Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have targeted ships linked to the U.S., Israel, and other nations supporting the war in Gaza. However, recognition poses diplomatic risks. Washington would have to weigh its support for Somaliland against its broader security ties with Somalia, where the U.S. has played a leading role in countering Islamic State and Al-Qaeda affiliates. Though Ambassador Richard Riley and other American officials have met with Somaliland's leadership to explore mutual interests in the Horn of Africa, the U.S. State Department said it is not in active talks about recognising Somaliland as an independent state. 'The United States recognises the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia, which includes Somaliland,' the department said in a statement. President Abdullahi said he plans to visit the United States soon and emphasised that Somaliland's offer of economic and security cooperation, including potential deals on critical minerals, is not contingent on formal recognition from Washington or Donald Trump. When asked about the possibility of hosting a U.S. military base, he said discussions are still ongoing. 'We are now still discussing issues. We are looking forward to that discussion bearing fruit in the future,' he said. Somaliland's presence in Africa remains unanchored. Though it broke away from Somalia over 30 years ago, it has yet to gain formal recognition as an independent state from either the African Union (AU) or the United Nations (UN).
The Guardian
30-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Exclusive: Somaliland president says recognition of state ‘on the horizon' following Trump talks
The new president of Somaliland says his state, which broke away from Somalia in 1991, is on the brink of securing international recognition – a development that would inflame tensions in the already tumultuous Horn of Africa. In an interview in the presidential palace in the capital, Hargeisa, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi tells the Guardian it is 'likely' that Somaliland will finally win acceptance of its right to self-determination, which has eluded the territory since it declared independence from Somalia 34 years ago. 'Recognition is on the horizon,' says the 69-year-old. Such a move would infuriate Somalia, which would view it as an attack on its sovereignty, unsettle regional powers in the strategic peninsula and fan broader concern that it sets a precedent for secessionist movements across the African continent. Despite its relative stability and regular democratic elections, Somaliland, a territory of about five million people, has yet to be recognised as independent by a single nation. 'It's a matter of time. Not if, but when and who will lead the recognition of Somaliland,' says Abdullahi. That goal, say Somaliland sources, has never been closer amid signs that the US president, Donald Trump, could be the first leader to recognise the self-declared republic in return for building a military base near the port of Berbera, a strategic location on the Gulf of Aden. Abdullahi revealed that US military officials, including the Horn of Africa's most senior officer, have recently visited Hargeisa. Another Washington delegation is expected to 'evaluate the asset [Berbera]'. A key US military base, Camp Lemonnier, is located in neighbouring Djibouti but concern is growing over Chinese influence there as Beijing continues to strengthen its ties with Africa. Project 2025, the alleged blueprint for the second Trump presidency, proposes the recognition of Somaliland as a 'hedge against the US's deteriorating position in Djibouti'. Where is it? Africa's easternmost point, the 2m sq km (770,000 sq miles) of the Horn of Africa peninsula takes in Somalia, Somaliland, Djibouti, Eritrea and the region's powerhouse, Ethiopia. Why is it considered volatile? It is one of the world's most unstable regions, riven by lengthy, interlinked conflicts. The Islamist militant group al-Shabaab is gaining ground in Somalia, while Ethiopia is recovering from a damaging war in Tigray with another rebellion brewing in its Amhara region and has fragile relations with Eritrea. The Republic of Somaliland is a de facto – unrecognised – but relatively stable state despite fraught relations with Somalia, which refuses to discuss its independence, seeing the breakaway state as a threat to Somali unity. Somaliland is also in a border dispute with Puntland, which declared itself an autonomous region of Somalia in 1998. Why is it strategically important? The Horn is hugely strategic. With historically close links to Arab nations, and positioned at the Red Sea's southern end, it borders the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean – overlooking global trade routes connecting Asia and Europe. This brings geopolitical tensions with China, the US, Russia and now Turkey, all vying for influence. What other pressures does the region face? The peninsula is susceptible to extreme rainfall patterns, exacerbated by the climate crisis. Ethiopia and Somalia have endured long droughts, which have triggered humanitarian emergencies. In April, US aircraft carriers off the coast of Somaliland played a part in US bombing raids on Yemen, responding to Houthi rebels' disruption of Red Sea shipping lanes. The US has yet to announce any formal arrangement with Somaliland, but Abdullahi said they were embedded in attempts to safeguard global maritime trade. 'We are a partner in security. We are a partner in counter-terrorism. We are a partner in safe marine routes for world trade,' says Abdullahi, who was sworn in as president five months ago. In that time, he says, the US ambassador to Somalia has visited him three times. The Trump administration is split over its approach to Somalia, which still considers Somaliland part of its territory. Recent gains by al- Shabaab Islamist militants have raised questions in the Trump administration over the worth of US counter-terrorism operations in Somalia. The withdrawal of US personnel and the closure of the US embassy in Mogadishu, the Somali capital, has been mooted.. Sources indicate that elements of the Trump team want to drop the US's longstanding 'one Somalia' policy. Ditching support for Somalia's weak central government would pave the way to officially recognise Somaliland. 'The US and maybe other international partners will [soon] have to recalculate their policies regarding Somalia,' says Abdullahi. The former defence secretary, Gavin Williamson, a prominent advocate for recognition of the ex-British protectorate, believes a recalculation is very much under way. Williamson, speaking to the Guardian earlier this month, said US officials had assured him that recognition for Somaliland would happen. 'I was talking to a few people this week and the thing I was getting from them is that it [recognition] is getting there. They've already started shifting away from the one Somalia policy.' Williamson, like Abdullahi, believes recognition will happen by 2028 at the latest. He adds: 'Before President Trump's term ends, the US will have recognised Somaliland. My hope is that within a year we will have the first country within the United Nations to have recognised Somaliland.' Bashe Omar, former representative of Somaliland to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), says US officials he met recently in Abu Dhabi were 'frustrated' at the one-Somalia policy. 'What we are hearing, behind the scenes, is encouraging us. The US is moving in the right direction.' Also waiting in the wings is the UAE, one of Trump's closer allies, which has invested more than $442m to modernise Berbera's port and a highway linking it to Ethiopia, a landlocked country that desperately wants maritime access. Sign up to Global Dispatch Get a different world view with a roundup of the best news, features and pictures, curated by our global development team after newsletter promotion Ethiopia's desire for access to the sea remains a key geopolitical theme of the region, prompting a bitter diplomatic dispute last year after the signing of a deal with Somaliland to build a port. The deal was reportedly made on the condition that Addis Ababa would recognise Somaliland. The development enraged Somalia, prompting fears of a wider regional conflict with Egypt backing Somalia largely over its anger with Ethiopia for building a dam on the Nile. Officially, the US state department continues to assert that it 'recognises the sovereignty and territorial integrity' of Somalia. A statement added that it was 'not in discussions' with Somaliland to recognise it as a state. Another factor remains, however farfetched it might seem, that could yet prove significant: the proposed resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza to the African breakaway state. The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, recently suggested that operations in Gaza would not end until the forced displacement of all its Palestinians had taken place. Trump has talked of the US relocating Gaza's population to allow the strip to be remodelled into the 'Riviera of the Middle East'. Aidrous Osman Hussain, deputy director of Somaliland's refugee department, says Palestinians have considered Somaliland a destination since the second intifada. 'Palestinians have been moving here for a long time, since 2004, 2005. Somaliland welcomes all refugees.' Currently there are 12 Palestinian families, but officials say they are happy for the numbers to grow. 'The people of Somaliland, the community of Hargeisa, wants to help refugees,' says Hussain. Almost 23,000 refugees of different nationalities have moved to Somaliland with 2,875 arriving last year. More than 300 Sudanese families have arrived there since its brutal civil war began and Somaliland's population of Syrians, who left during the civil war, numbers about 2,000 people. One Syrian family, who fled fierce fighting Damascus in 2023, describes Hargeisa as perfect for Muslims; Syrian restaurants, supermarkets and dentists are dotted throughout the capital. As he verified his family's paperwork at the refugee processing facility in the Sha'ab area of Hargeisa, Hassan says: 'Somalilanders are Muslim; here it is safe for us and our family.' Hassan, who did not want to share his surname, adds: 'The most important thing that mattered to me was security. Here, it's a very open community and we integrate well.' Yet to help further, Somaliland needs international recognition to access more help from the wider community. Hussain adds: 'If Somaliland gets recognition, we can help share the burden; we can help more people. Abdullahi, flanked by nodding advisers, says the US is yet to officially float the prospect of resettling people from Gaza. 'We are a hospitable people. They, the Palestinians, are our brothers. If they decide to come on their own, we don't mind. 'But there is no discussion on that issue with the Palestinians or with any other country.'
