US. Reaffirms Somalia’s Territorial Integrity in Congressional Report on Somaliland Engagement

GOOBJOOG NEWS|WASHINGTON: The United States has reaffirmed its recognition of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, even as it outlined a growing interest in deepening engagement with Somaliland, the self-declared republic that broke away from Mogadishu in 1991.
A newly released report to Congress, submitted under Section 7019(e) of the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026, makes Washington’s position unambiguous from the outset: Somaliland is part of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and any U.S. engagement with Hargeisa operates within that framework.
“The United States recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, which includes the region of Somaliland,” the report states, effectively closing the door on formal recognition despite Somaliland’s three decades of self-governance, functioning institutions, and repeated bids for international legitimacy.
The report, produced by the State Department, identifies three areas where the U.S. sees potential for expanded cooperation with Somaliland in security, diplomacy, and trade, analysts say the framing is telling. Washington is deepening its practical relationship with Hargeisa while being careful not to legitimize its statehood claims.
On security, the report acknowledges Somaliland’s considerable strategic worth. Its proximity to Yemen and the Bab al-Mandab Strait — one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints — positions it as a useful partner in protecting commercial and military navigation between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. The report also notes its geographic potential in monitoring and countering links between Houthi militants and al-Shabaab, al-Qaeda’s largest and most financially powerful affiliate.
U.S. Africa Command, AFRICOM, already holds regular engagements with Somaliland authorities and is exploring areas for formal cooperation, the report says.
On the diplomatic front, Embassy Mogadishu conducts periodic visits to Somaliland to discuss security, humanitarian assistance, and economic issues. The fact that U.S. diplomats travel to Hargeisa under the same security protocols applied to the rest of Somalia — requiring non-commercial aircraft and other resource-intensive measures — underscores Washington’s insistence on treating Somaliland as part of a unified, if fragile, Somali state.
Investment Interest and Political Reality
Trade and investment present perhaps the most concrete area of potential growth. Somaliland authorities have actively courted U.S. capital, particularly in minerals and infrastructure. The ongoing development of Berbera’s airport and seaport into a regional trade hub — with land-locked Ethiopia as a key potential beneficiary — has drawn American commercial interest.
But the report is candid about the obstacles. “Regional security concerns and the dispute over Somaliland’s status, including its refusal to cooperate with national authorities, present challenges for investment, banking, and trade,” it notes — a pointed reference to the fundamental tension at the heart of the relationship.
Somaliland’s refusal to engage with the Federal Government of Somalia remains a sticking point that complicates not just diplomacy but the basic infrastructure of commerce, including access to international banking systems.
The report reflects Washington’s longstanding balancing act: engaging Somaliland enough to advance shared interests without conferring the recognition Hargeisa has sought for over thirty years. While Somaliland has held multiple peaceful elections and built governance structures, the U.S. has consistently declined to break from the international consensus supporting Mogadishu’s nominal authority over the entire Somali territory.