Thursday February 6, 2025
FILE - Somalia’s Ambassador to the United States, Dahir Hassan Arab, speaking during an interview with VOA
Mogadishu (HOL) — The Somali government has dismissed the possibility of U.S. recognition of Somaliland, warning that such a move could trigger significant diplomatic fallout and strain Somalia’s relations with its key international ally.
Somalia’s ambassador to Washington, Dahir Hassan Arab, told VOA in a recent interview that the United States, as a global defender of international law, has no intention of recognizing Somaliland as an independent state. “There is no reason for the U.S. to divide Somalia and recognize any part of it as a separate entity,” Arab said. “The U.S. is a responsible nation and a guardian of global legal norms.”
The ambassador underscored the potential consequences of recognition, warning that it would destabilize the Horn of Africa and set a dangerous precedent for secessionist movements globally. He added that the issue of Somaliland’s recognition is not on Washington’s agenda for now.
In a bid to counter Somaliland’s growing lobbying efforts in the U.S., the Somali government recently hired a lobbying firm. The firm’s role, Arab explained, is to provide legal guidance on navigating U.S. policy and legislative processes that could affect Somalia’s territorial integrity.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but remains internationally unrecognized and has intensified its campaign for recognition over the past two years. Leading this push are several influential U.S. lawmakers and Republican diplomats. The movement gained further traction after Donald Trump’s reelection, with Somaliland’s leadership praising him as a decisive figure who could support their cause.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud acknowledged the growing lobbying campaign in Washington but expressed uncertainty over Trump’s intentions. “We know this campaign is ongoing, but it’s unclear how far it will go,” Mohamud said in a recent statement.
Despite Somaliland’s decades-long de facto independence, Mogadishu has consistently maintained that Somalia’s territorial integrity is non-negotiable. Arab reiterated that Somalia will use diplomatic channels to block any international attempts to recognize Somaliland.