Recognizing Somaliland Would Be in The African Union’s Interest

I respectfully urge the Governments of the African Union to formally recognize the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state within its 1960 borders.

The Republic of Somaliland is in the Horn of Africa, along the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden. Its borders are Djibouti to the northwest, Ethiopia to the south and west, and Somalia to the east. Somaliland covers an area of about 176,120 square kilometers and has an estimated population of 6.2 million as of 2024. Its capital is Hargeisa. The country has a coastline of approximately 850 kilometers on the Red Sea.

Somaliland became a British Protectorate in 1884 and declared independence on June 26, 1960, gaining recognition from thirty-five countries. Soon after, it voluntarily united with Somalia to form the Somali Republic, though this union was never legally ratified. In a 1961 referendum, most Somalilanders opposed unification. The absence of a binding treaty and years of political and economic marginalization led to ongoing grievances in Somaliland.

During the 1980s, conditions grew unbearable under Siad Barre’s harsh regime, which was notorious for severe human rights abuses. Many civilians lost their lives, especially in Hargeisa, which was devastated to such an extent that it became known as “Africa’s Dresden.”  Entire communities were eliminated, and a massive portion of the population was forced to seek refuge in neighboring Ethiopia. In May 1991, Somaliland reasserted its independence during the Burao Conference.

Since reclaiming its independence in 1991, Somaliland has made remarkable progress in establishing a functioning democracy characterized by peaceful transitions of power. The nation has developed its own independent judiciary, a bicameral parliament, and a stable executive branch capable of governance. Moreover, Somaliland has created a robust security apparatus that not only maintains territorial integrity but has also successfully kept extremist insurgencies, including Al-Shabaab, at bay. This commitment to stability and governance has earned Somaliland the status as a rare beacon of democratic values in a region marred by conflict.

Somaliland has established important partnerships with democratic states fostering relationships based on mutual benefit and cooperation. Currently The Republic of Somaliland has diplomatic relations with the State of Israel, after that country became the first United Nations member to recognize Somaliland on December 26, 2025. It has developed a strong relationship with Taiwan, based on shared values and principles. Somaliland also maintains strategic ties with Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, Kenya, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and the United States.

A milestone in Somaliland’s economic development is the $442 million investment from Dubai Port World in the Berbera Port and the Berbera Corridor project. This initiative significantly improved regional connectivity with Ethiopia, highlighting Somaliland’s potential as a crucial economic hub in East Africa.

Moreover, Somaliland plays an indispensable role in securing the Gulf of Aden, actively combating piracy and extremism while contributing to international maritime security. Given its importance, this country plays a significant role in global geopolitics, especially since any rise in threats could disrupt vital shipping lanes that link key international markets.

Somaliland meets the Montevideo Convention criteria for statehood, which encompass the presence of a permanent population, defined territory, governance structures, and the capacity to engage in foreign relations. Formal recognition by the African Union would reaffirm the nation’s commitment to democratic values and human rights. Furthermore, this recognition would contribute to enhanced regional security in the Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Aden, acting as a counterbalance to destabilizing influences, including terrorism and external powers that seek to exploit the region’s vulnerabilities.

The question of whether the African Union (AU) should recognize Somaliland is one of the most significant and debated issues in African diplomacy. Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has functioned as a de facto state for over three decades while seeking international legitimacy. The arguments for recognition center on historical legality, democratic performance, and regional security:

Unlike many secessionist movements, Somaliland’s case is often described as a “dissolution of a union” rather than a rebellion. The AU’s foundational principle the “intangibility of borders” mandates respecting boundaries inherited at independence. Somaliland argues its borders are exactly those of the former British Somaliland Protectorate, which was a separate colonial entity from Italian Somalia. Somaliland became independent from Britain on June 26, 1960. In the following five days, more than thirty countries—including the United States—formally recognized Somaliland, before it chose to unite with Somalia. Proponents argue that recognition would simply restore a pre-existing sovereign state. A 2005 African Union fact-finding mission concluded that Somaliland’s case is “unique and self-justified” and noted that recognizing it would not open a “Pandora’s box” for other secessionist movements because of its specific colonial history.

In a region often marked by instability, Somaliland is frequently cited as a rare success story of indigenous state-building. It has its own currency, passports, army, and police force, and it exercises full administrative control over its territory. Somaliland has held multiple “one-person, one-vote” elections and has seen several peaceful transfers of power between opposing political parties—a record that exceeds many recognized AU member states. Supporters argue that the brutal persecution of Somalilanders under the Siad Barre regime in the 1980s which included the leveling of its capital, Hargeisa gave the territory a moral right to “remedial secession” to protect its citizens.

Recognition is also framed as a pragmatic step to stabilize the Horn of Africa. Somaliland has effectively kept extremist groups like Al-Shabaab out of its borders. Official recognition would allow it to sign formal security treaties and receive direct military aid to bolster this “buffer zone.”  Located along the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a global shipping chokepoint, Somaliland is a critical partner in fighting piracy. Formal status would allow it to better police its waters in the Gulf of Aden. Recognition would unlock access to international financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank, allowing for large-scale infrastructure projects such as the expansion of the Berbera Port, which serves landlocked Ethiopia.

In addition to moral imperatives and the reasons listed above, recognition of the Republic of Somaliland would align with African Nation’s economic and strategic interests by fostering a partnership with a stable and democratic ally in a pivotal region. This collaboration could open pathways for trade, investment, and shared initiatives that benefit all nations.

Failing to recognize Somaliland perpetuates its diplomatic isolation, which poses a significant risk of creating a vacuum that extremist groups like Al-Shabaab and the Houthis may exploit. Given Somaliland’s vital location near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait—a critical global shipping lane—instability in this region could have dire consequences, endangering international trade, compromising global security, and adversely impacting African Union’s interests.

I urge the governments of the African Union to take a principled stance. The moment has arrived for the African Nations to recognize the Republic of Somaliland and support its rightful place among the community of nations. Such Recognition would not only honor the sacrifices of the Somaliland people but also uphold the fundamental principles of democracy and self-determination that play a vital role in promoting global peace and security.