In a significant diplomatic development, the U.S. Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has publicly recognized Somaliland’s critical role in countering China’s growing hegemony in the Horn of Africa.
The committee praised Somaliland as one of only two African nations recognizing Taiwan, positioning it as a key ally in advancing America’s security and diplomatic objectives against Beijing’s expanding influence.
Somaliland’s U.S. Envoy, Bashir Goth, expressed exhilaration at this recognition, calling it a “historic moment” for Somaliland’s government and people at large. “For years, we’ve stood alone against China’s coercive tactics, and now U.S. lawmakers are seeing our value,” Goth told The Horn news outlet.
This follows his recent comments to Newsweek, where he criticized the outdated “One Somalia” policy and urged the U.S. to reconsider its stance, given Somaliland’s stability and strategic Gulf of Aden location.
The recognition comes amid reports of China’s aggressive regional moves, including a $20 million deal involving food aid in Somalia and plans to deploy 200 non-combat troops to Las Anod. Military intelligence sources reveal China’s broader strategy, which includes supplying weapons, constructing a mini-port in Sanaag, and securing rare-earth mineral and oil rights from Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre in exchange for support.
Somaliland’s historical claim to independence, established on June 26, 1960, and backed by British colonial records and a 2005 African Union fact-finding mission, strengthens its case. The U.S. pivot toward Somaliland could signal a policy shift, potentially leading to formal recognition—a move that might reshape regional dynamics and challenge China’s foothold in the region, including its military base in Djibouti.
The transformation and growing prominence of Somaliland’s political status across different spheres, particularly with U.S. political parties, stem from the relentless efforts of Envoy Bashir Goth, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the initiatives of successive governments, and the vigorous advocacy campaigns led by communities both within Somaliland and abroad to advance the cause of the Republic of Somaliland’s independence in the United States and on the global stage.
Goth’s enthusiasm reflects hope that this U.S. attention could spur broader international support, marking a potential turning point for Somaliland’s 34-year quest for sovereignty