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As Donald Trump upends the global-trade playbook, a restive corner of Africa is stirring amid efforts to impress the US president.
The semi-autonomous region of Somaliland is courting Washington to recognize its claim for independence from Somalia — a goal that’s bound to shake up the Horn of Africa, where conflict is perennial.
Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, who leads the breakaway territory, has offered the US a military base at the entrance to the Red Sea and deals for sought-after minerals.
Its leaders have met Somalia’s US ambassador Richard Riley and defense department officials at least five times since Abdullahi came to power in late 2024.
The stage is now delicately set for a meeting between the Somaliland president and Trump in the not-too-distant future, a tête-à-tête that Abdullahi said would be used to hash out an accord.
While the US currently acknowledges Somalia’s claim to the territory, any kind of deal could once again send shockwaves through the region. That could add to instability — American troops have been helping Mogadishu battle an Islamist insurgency for decades, while neighbor Ethiopia has long coveted access to the ocean.
Somaliland President Courts US Recognition
The autonomous region is offering the US critical minerals, military base
Just this week, Somalia formed a new state by annexing territory from Somaliland.
“We are a peace-loving nation, but Somaliland is capable of defending its territory and its people,” Abdullahi said in an interview.
For the US, a military base in Somaliland would make sense.
The United Arab Emirates already controls a port in the coastal town of Berbera and flies military planes in and out of its airport. US defense officials have scouted Somaliland as they look for new locations to establish a presence outside of nearby Djibouti, where it currently runs a base alongside nations such as China.
A new site would boost Washington’s ability to tackle Iran-backed Houthis as they continue attacks on ships.
It’s unclear how much bargaining power Somaliland has, though. Its mining sector is still developing, facing challenges such as a lack of infrastructure and limited institutional capacity.
And while companies have confirmed the presence of minerals including lithium, they don’t know if there’s the commercial value Trump would expect.
Source: bloomberg
Hornpost staff reporter
