US officials insist Somaliland is part of Somalia

GOOBJOOG NEWS/WASHINGTON D.C.: The Biden administration made clear it had no plans to recognize Somaliland’s independence from Somalia during the visit by Somaliland’s president, Muse Bihi Abdi, and foreign minister, Essa Kayd Mohamoud. 

Top U.S. lawmakers signaled that the far the United States could go regarding the Somaliland issue was to deepen ties, fearing that a policy to endorse Somaliland as an independent state could have the unintended consequence of breaking up entire Somalia.

They also argue that a U.S. recognition of Somaliland would severely damage Washington’s relations with other partners on the continent and the African Union, which does not recognize Somaliland.

Molly Phee, the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs said she had discussed “strengthening US engagement with Somaliland within the framework of our single Somalia policy,” in a meeting with President Bihi on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Larry Andre, U.S. Ambassador to Somalia, while speaking in a series of interviews with VOA Somali, said Washington’s policy on Somalia will not change in spite of recent developments.

In a keynote speech at the Heritage Foundation, Bihi said his country had grown weary of waiting to unite with Somalia, whose other parts remain unstable.

“Somaliland first gained independence and international recognition on 26 June 1960,” adding that it was only five days after independence that Somaliland united voluntarily with Somalia with the ultimate aim of creating a “Greater Somalia”, officially known as the Somali Republic. 

“Even if it takes 100 years for recognition, we will still stand for our identity, we’ll still engage with everybody, and we’ll still dream of a day where Somaliland is recognized as its own country,”  Somaliland Minister of Foreign Affairs, Essa Kayd told Foreign Policy in an interview