Somaliland’s Strategy is a Little Closer to Home

Somaliland’s push for international recognition is accelerating… not only in the United States but across the African continent, with new diplomatic overtures reaching both East and West Africa.

Washington Warming to Somaliland

Last month, Somaliland’s Foreign Minister, Abdirahman Adam, concluded a pivotal visit to the United States ahead of an expected official trip by President Irro to DC.

High ranking diplomatic sources informed me that the visit was well received, marking a key moment in Somaliland’s long-standing campaign for formal recognition.

Following the visit, US Congressman Scott Perry introduced ‘The Somaliland Recognition Act’ to the House Foreign Affairs Committee — a bill that, if passed, would advance to both chambers of Congress before landing on the President’s desk.

While Perry previously introduced a similar bill at the end of 2024, this version has gained broader support and greater visibility, whilst the US formally reviews it’s foreign policy in Africa and prioritizes the ‘threat of China‘ over Russia and Iran.

High-profile Republicans are also stepping forward. Senator Ted Cruz recently praised Somaliland’s “democratic credentials” during a Foreign Affairs Committee session.

US-China Rivalry Shapes the Landscape

Somaliland’s strategic relevance is rising in parallel with intensifying US-China competition on the continent.

President Trump’s renewed travel ban on Somali nationals underscores his administration’s more hardline approach. Meanwhile, China has eliminated tariffs on African imports, a move widely seen as part of Beijing’s charm offensive to counter accusations of debt-trap diplomacy.

In this context, Somaliland’s recognition bid has gained additional weight, presenting Washington with an opportunity to support a democratic and pro-Western partner in a region increasingly shaped by multipolar rivalries.

East Africa: Kenya Moves Quietly, Boldly

Closer to home, Somaliland is also making inroads.

A closed-door meeting in Nairobi between President Irro and Kenyan President William Ruto last month led to a discreet greenlight for a Somaliland liaison office in the Kenyan capital — a significant development, albeit one that drew swift condemnation from Mogadishu.

Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs publicly rejected the move, reiterating its stance on national territorial integrity.

Yet for Kenya, the meeting signals a pragmatic geopolitical play: Nairobi is keen to maintain influence in both Mogadishu and Hargeisa as regional dynamics evolve — particularly as Berbera Port gains international attention and Ethiopia intensifies it’s quest for Red Sea access.

Kenya, a key US and NATO partner in East Africa, may see value in hedging its bets while awaiting the outcome of Washington’s policy review on the Horn of Africa.

West Africa: New Ground, Old Ties

Somaliland’s growing visibility is now resonating across West Africa.

The Somaliland Foreign Office confirmed that Somaliland’s Foreign Minister will embark on a tour of West Africa next month, shortly after the country commemorates its 65th anniversary of independence on 26 June. 

The event symbolizes Hargeisa’s brief post-colonial sovereignty in 1960, recognized by over 35 states including all permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Hargeisa is reportedly lining up official visits to Togo, Guinea, and Ghana. The move comes just days after the Ghanaian ambassador visited Somaliland; a potential prelude to a wider diplomatic offensive across West Africa.

A stronger Somaliland presence in this region would mark a breakthrough: reinforcing Hargeisa’s diplomatic footprint whilst forging ties based on shared post-colonial experience and democratic aspirations.

African leaders recognize Somaliland’s quest for recognition although leaders want Hargeisa to gain recognition via multilateral institutions, such as the African Union.

A Strategic Tilt: Multipolarism in Action

Somaliland’s pivot toward West Africa reflects more than geographic ambition; it signals a potential alignment with a regional bloc in flux.

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have formally withdrawn from ECOWAS, citing the bloc’s perceived Western bias and democratic conditionality.

Against this backdrop, Somaliland’s outreach westward could position it as a bridge: aligning with like-minded states outside rigid geopolitical blocs while remaining close to democratic values championed by the West.

For Somaliland, this strategic shift could amplify its credibility… offering a platform for deeper engagement with both African partners and Western allies, including the European Union.

Recognition Through Realignment

As the US weighs its Africa strategy and China deepens its economic grip, Somaliland is not standing still.

Hargeisa is actively building relationships — East and West — and crafting a recognition strategy rooted in diplomacy, democracy, and strategic alignment.

In doing so, Hargeisa may be charting a new path: one that transcends binaries, leverages multipolar opportunity, and builds legitimacy not only in the West, but a little closer to home.