Ambassador Hussein Ali Duale, a distinguished Somaliland diplomat and former Minister of Finance (2003–2010), has written a heartfelt letter to U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, thanking him for advocating Somaliland’s recognition as an independent state.
Dated August 24, 2025, the letter recounts Somaliland’s historical struggle for sovereignty and highlights the significance of Cruz’s recent appeal to President Donald Trump for formal recognition of the breakaway republic.
Ambassador Duale, a former military officer and advisor on international recognition, describes Somaliland’s voluntary 1960 union with Somalia as a “nightmare” for its people.
He details the marginalization of Somaliland’s representatives in the newly formed then Somalia Republic, noting their exclusion from key government roles.
Duale shares a personal account of his involvement in a 1961 coup attempt with nine other British-trained officers to restore Somaliland’s sovereignty—an effort that failed but underscored the deep desire for reclaiming their lost self-determination.
“On July 1, 1960, when this unfair government was announced, the union died in the hearts and minds of the Somaliland people,” Duale wrote, citing the 80% rejection of the union constitution in a 1961 referendum.
He praises Cruz’s advocacy, stating, “Your unremitting efforts for our cause will remain in the hearts and minds of our people for generations,” and urges the Senate Subcommittee on African Affairs to support Somaliland’s quest for recognition.
The letter follows Senator Cruz’s August 14, 2025, letter to President Trump, in which he called Somaliland a “critical security and diplomatic partner” for the U.S., highlighting its strategic Gulf of Aden location and contributions to counterterrorism and anti-piracy efforts.
Duale’s letter has gained traction on social media, with X posts echoing his call for recognition. One user noted, “Ambassador Hussein Ali Duale extended a formal letter of congratulations to Senator Ted Cruz, urging official recognition of the Republic of Somaliland,” signaling growing momentum for Somaliland’s cause.
Somaliland, a former British protectorate, reclaimed independence in 1991 after Somalia’s central government collapsed. Despite maintaining a stable democratic system and its own institutions, it remains unrecognized by any UN member state.
Duale’s letter underscores Somaliland’s historical and moral case for sovereignty, marking a pivotal moment in its decades-long pursuit of international legitimacy
(Sealed official letter with envelope) Senator Ted Cruz.
Dear Senator Ted Cruze
Your Excellency,
I am Ambassador Hussein Ali Duale, former Minister of Finance of the Republic of Somaliland (2003–2010). I have served my country in various capacities, including as a diplomat, a military officer during its formative years, and later as an advisor on international recognition and foreign affairs.
I do thank you very much for your letter dated 14th August to President Trump.
Your Excellency, the people of Somaliland have traditionally been the flag bearers of Somali nationalism.
They had a dream of Greater Somalia, bringing all Somali-speaking territories under one flag, namely former British Somaliland, Italian Somalia, French Somaliland, former Somali State of Ethiopia and the Somali region of Northeastern Kenya.
In life, dreams sometimes turn into nightmares. Somaliland’s union with Somalia was a real nightmare for its people of Somaliland.
I here relate to you my personal story and those of my other colleagues. After finishing our Secondary education ten of us were sent to the United Kingdom to be trained as military officers for Somaliland Army. We left in 1958.
We got commissioned as officers in December 1960. We returned to Somaliland in December 1960, six months after Somaliland’s independence from Great Britain and union with Somalia. What struck us most, was how Somaliland was unfairly treated in their union with Somalia.
Somalia literally ignored Somaliland when forming the 1st union government on July 1, 1960.
The President was from Somalia, the Prime Minister and key ministers as Finance, Interior, Foreign, Justice, Attorney General, the Commander of the army, the Commissioner of Police, they were all from Somalia. The capital was Mogadishu. From a cabinet of 19 ministers, Somaliland got three ministers of no significance.
On 1st July 1960 when this unfair government was announced the union died in the hearts and minds of the Somaliland people.
The people of Somaliland took every peaceful step to show that they were against the union. In the referendum for the new union constitution in June 1961, 80% of the people of Somaliland voted “NO.”
Somaliland’s rejection of the constitution means that the union was null and void. Since the machines of government were in the hands of Somalia, they totally ignored the verdict of the Somaliland people.
We the ten officers decided to make a move to remedy this blatant injustice. On 10th December 1961, we staged a coup to delink Somaliland from this unholy union. Ours was the second coup in Africa.
The first was the one staged by General Mengistu Neway and his younger brother Germame Neway against the former Emperor, Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. Unfortunately, we failed.
Of the ten officers, we are the only two alive today.
H.E Ambassador Abdullahi Adan (Congo) who served as a diplomatic careers at the Arab League
Your Excellency, in Shakespeare’s Macbeth he writes: “The good that men do lives after them.”
Your unremitting efforts for our cause will always remain in the hearts and minds of our people for generations to come. I pray that the Senate Sub-committee of African Affairs will extend their support to this just cause.
Your Excellency, I take this opportunity to wish you every success in life.
Amb. Hussein Ali Duale