The Somaliland Intellectual Forum, a coalition of scholars, professionals, and civic leaders, has expressed profound gratitude to U.S. Senator Ted Cruz for his bold advocacy in urging President Donald J. Trump to formally recognize the Republic of Somaliland as a sovereign nation.
In a letter titled “Somaliland Intellectual Forum’s Letter of Gratitude and Support for U.S. Recognition of Somaliland’s Sovereignty,” dated August 15, 2025, the Forum hailed Cruz’s efforts as a historic milestone for Somaliland’s decades-long quest for international legitimacy.
Cruz, in a letter to President Trump on August 14, 2025, called for the United States to recognize Somaliland within its 1960 borders, emphasizing its historical independence and strategic importance.
The Forum’s letter underscores that Somaliland is not a breakaway state but a nation that gained independence from Great Britain on June 26, 1960, and was recognized by over 30 countries, including the U.S., before entering an unratified union with Somalia.
That union collapsed in 1991, leading Somaliland to reassert its sovereignty and build a stable, democratic state in a volatile region.“
Somaliland is a reliable partner for the United States,” the Forum stated, highlighting the nation’s strategic location along the Gulf of Aden near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical chokepoint for global maritime trade.
The group emphasized Somaliland’s readiness to deepen military cooperation, bolster counterterrorism efforts, and expand trade with American firms, positioning it as a natural ally in the Horn of Africa.
The Forum praised Cruz for reigniting hope among Somalilanders and reinforcing ties between the two nations. “Your leadership has reaffirmed the values of liberty, self-determination, and strategic foresight,” the letter read, urging Trump to restore U.S. recognition of Somaliland to honor its democratic resilience and advance American interests.
As President Trump considers Cruz’s recommendation, the Somaliland Intellectual Forum’s endorsement underscores the growing momentum for Somaliland’s place on the world stage.