Mogadishu (Dawan Africa) – Somalia has reaffirmed its commitment to unity and territorial integrity after U.S. Senator Ted Cruz called on President Donald Trump to formally recognise Somaliland as an independent state.
In a letter to the White House dated August 14, Senator Cruz argued that Somaliland has functioned as a stable, self-governing entity since 1991, highlighting its democratic elections, security cooperation with the United States, and strategic location along the Gulf of Aden. “The U.S.–Somaliland partnership is robust, and it is deepening… To do so to the greatest effect and the greatest benefit to American national security interests, it requires the status of a state. I urge you to grant it that recognition,” Cruz wrote.
The Somali Embassy in Washington issued a swift response, reaffirming that Somalia remains “a steadfast security partner of the United States” and warning that “any policy that weakens Somali sovereignty would only embolden extremists and threaten the stability of the entire Horn of Africa.” It noted that Somalia and the U.S. have conducted more than 20 joint military strikes against Al-Shabaab and ISIS in 2025 alone — “a level of coordination that significantly surpasses that of prior years.”
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ali Omar echoed this message in a post on X (formerly Twitter), saying: “The Horn of Africa is at a crossroads. Extremism, drought, conflict, and global trade disruptions demand cooperation, not fragmentation. Somalia and the United States can and must stand together to defend stability, democracy, and shared prosperity.”
The exchange comes at a time when Mogadishu is deepening security ties with Washington, and as debates over the future of Somaliland’s political status continue to stir diplomatic sensitivities in the region.
