The U.S. Should Not Recognize Somaliland

On August 14, American Senator Ted Cruz called for the Trump administration to recognize Somaliland as an independent country. Cruz was resumed as a way to reward democracy and confront China’s influence in Africa.

The invitation to recognize a broader batch among American conservatives, including the head of the Heritage Foundation Kevin Roberts, who declared, “America must be the first country to recognize Somalland.” Supporters argue that recognition will reward the relative stability of Somalland and the electoral registry, in contrast to Somalia’s dysfunction.

On August 14, American Senator Ted Cruz called for the Trump administration to recognize Somaliland as an independent country. Cruz was resumed as a way to reward democracy and confront China’s influence in Africa.

The invitation to recognize a broader batch among American conservatives, including the head of the Heritage Foundation Kevin Roberts, who declared, “America must be the first country to recognize Somalland.” Supporters argue that recognition will reward the relative stability of Somalland and the electoral registry, in contrast to Somalia’s dysfunction.

Since the early first decade of the twentieth century, Somalland has organized many presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections that involve the transfer of authority. International observers have found, despite the limited number, that these polls are generally reliable, despite repeated delays and conflicts over the registration of voters.

In addition to emphasizing this record of democracy, Republicans are also developing a state of Somalia as a strategic weight of China. Representative John Molinaar, head of the Chinese Communist Party selection committee, wrote in the January message that the establishment of an American representative office in the capital of Hargisa “confirms our commitment to confrontation [People’s Republic of China’s] The growing PRC effect in one of the most geographical areas of geographical importance. “Mooleenaar referred to the embrace of Beijing and alluded to our potential rights in the Perbara port – the same government of Somalia in the port submitted to the United States earlier this year.

However, these allegations, no matter how attractive on the surface, collapse under check. Confession now will not develop American interests. It would destabilize the Africa century, undermine anti -terrorism cooperation, and encourage separatist movements throughout Africa with violent consequences.

Although Somalland runs Its local administration maintains the security forces, has no international recognition and is still a legal part of Somalia. At the heart of this ongoing issue lies the former British legacy. When the Somali dictator Mohamed Sayyad Barry was overthrown in 1991, a civil war broke out throughout the country. The Somali National Movement (SNM) announced the independence of Somalland in the northwest of the country – an area of ​​about 6 million people on the borders of Ethiopia and Djibouti. SNM, which was mostly from the ISAQ clan, was based on its demand on the borders of this previous British reserve, while the rest of Somalia was under the Italian colonial rule. However, these allegations ignored the affiliations based on the firm clans in the regions within these borders. This was later clarified, in 1998, when the Dhulbahante-Darod clan in East Somalland joined the newly formed Somalia, which was also Darud. This was an early sign that Somalland’s demand was far from being acceptable globally.

Just weeks ago, a new entity in support of the agreement called the North Eastern Province in the Soul, Sanaag and Ayn-Ayn-Ayn-Ayn-AYN regions announced the same lands that Somalil has long claimed. These areas have been constantly opposed to the independence of Somalland and instead with the support of Somalia United.

Somalland’s attempts to impose control there left deep scars. In 2007, its forces occupied the capital of Sol and Las Anod and its surrounding towns, which are governing for years amid accusations of serious violations. During the renewed clashes in 2023, the Somalland forces carried out the neighborhoods and civil hospitals, which resulted in the displacement of more than 150,000 people. Ultimately, local militias backed by fighters from Bontland returned the region and later reorganized as the northeastern state of Somalia. This date is not limited to a deep defect in the Somaliland record, but rather a major blow to Somaliland’s regional safety – a reminder that it lacks full control over its demands demanding.

The support of recognition now would raise these wounds and raise the risk of violent clashes between the factions supporting the agreement and the Constitution. Darod dynamics between the kidneys guarantees that any conflict that includes one of them is likely to be drawn in the other. This can quickly escalate from local skirmishes to a broader regional conflict that extends across the borders of Somalia, as with clashes in 2023. The United States should not add legitimacy to another fragile rupture in an already unstable area of ​​Ethiopia’s wars and its property along the Red Sea Corridor.

The most anxious are the effects of anti -terrorism. Sometimes, Somalland referred to an interest in relations with Israel, including awareness that dates back to the 1990s and periodic reports on calm communication. These relations help explain the reason for Israel floating to proposals to transport the Palestinians in Gaza to Somalland, an idea that has already been born anger throughout the region and the Islamic world. Critics described it as forced displacement disguised as a policy and movement that would violate international law. Extreme groups throughout Somalia, such as young people, take advantage of this climate. Over the past year and a half, the group has already linked the Israel war on Gaza with its rebellion on Telegram channels in Somali, and threw itself as part of a broader struggle against the repression backed by Western.

If the Somalland transfer proposal is gaining traction, it is almost certain that the youth and its affiliated companies will take advantage of it as evidence of a Western conspiracy and Somalland to uproot Muslims and divide the Somali lands. If the United States is recognizing Somalland, it will confirm the narration of young people and pour fuel on fire. These groups will take advantage of grievances and use them as a tool for intensifying employment, which would restore years of American investment in anti -terrorism partnerships throughout the region.

The recognition will not only encourage extremists, but also separatist movements throughout Africa. Differential groups from the regions of Oromia and Tigray in Ethiopia, to the movements in Nigeria and Cameroon, you will see that they are green. Instead of strengthening democracy, recognition will encourage separatists, which raises the possibility of new conflicts and even civil wars.

Unlike Somalland, the only two countries who have obtained independence in recent decades, Eritrea in 1993 and South Sudan in 2011 made official approval from their parents after the popular voices. The unilateral recognition of the United States of Somalia without an agreement by the federal government in Somalia or consulting with regional partners would represent an enormous break from these standards. This will destroy Washington’s credibility throughout Africa and opens new opportunities for competitors such as China and Russia to photograph the United States as reckless and self -service.

Nothing of this It means that Somalland’s achievements must be ignored. Its relative stability and electoral practices are noticeable, but stability is not the same sovereignty. Washington has tools to encourage progress without crossing the threshold of confession and is doing it for years. American military delegations and Congress have made visits to the strategic port of Berberra, and the leaders of the African Command and US embassy officials also met with Somalia leaders in Hargisa. On the development side, Washington has invested in Hargisa energy projects while providing grants to strengthen Somaliland parliamentary institutions. More importantly, all these projects are officially authorized by the federal government of Somalia, even when implemented by local actors. The United States can continue to communicate with Somalia in this way, which enhances growth while adhering to regional safety in Somalia.

The Horn of Africa is located at a global crossroads, and there will be a new conflict. It connects vital maritime routes across the Red Sea, proves the efforts to combat terrorism, and constitutes the broader security scene in Africa. The United States should remain focusing on the practical steps that build stability, not to open the door to greater chaos.