Three former U.S. Assistant Secretaries of State for African Affairs—Jendayi Frazer, Tibor P. Nagy Jr., and Herman J. Cohen—voiced strong support for Senator Ted Cruz’s call to recognize Somaliland as an independent state, signaling a potential shift in U.S. policy toward the Horn of Africa.
Their endorsement highlights Somaliland’s strategic importance and stable governance as key factors in advancing U.S. national security interests, particularly in countering China’s growing regional influence, which includes $13.5 billion in African infrastructure investments, per a 2018 World Bank report.
Somaliland’s case is bolstered by its brief independence in 1960, when it received U.S. recognition via a congratulatory telegram from then-Secretary of State Christian Herter. Unlike Somalia’s volatile capital, Mogadishu, Somaliland has maintained consistent stability and democratic governance.
Frazer, reflecting on her 2005–2009 tenure, expressed regret for not advocating more for Somaliland, citing potential African Union support from nations like South Africa, Kenya, and Ethiopia, despite resistance from Djibouti and Uganda. She suggested U.S. recognition could proceed if Somalia’s government continues to falter.
Nagy, in 2022, dismissed U.S. opposition to recognition as “nonsense,” emphasizing Somaliland’s democratic achievements and strategic value.
Cohen recently urged the State Department to complete its policy review and formally recognize Somaliland, citing its stability and democratic credentials.
This unified diplomatic support, paired with Somaliland’s strategic Red Sea location, could pave the way for stronger U.S.-Somaliland ties, enhancing America’s geopolitical presence in Africa.