The Breakaway area of Somaliland in Somalia has rejected attempts by the central government to provide the United States with exclusive control of Belbera port and air bases.
The city is located in the Aden Strategic Bay on the north coast of Somaliland. The territory that Somalia declared independence in 1991 after he fell into a civil war said its facilities were not Mogadishu’s.
In a letter to President Donald Trump seen by Reuters, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said he would also provide ports and air forces within Somalia, with all four of them strengthening US security projects.
Somaliland’s Foreign Minister Abdiramandahiruaden dismissed the move as “desperate.”
The signal given before Trump began his second term hopes the Somali Landers will become the world’s first country to recognize a self-declared republic that the United States has served as a de facto nation for nearly 34 years.
“There’s nothing they can do to stop Somaliland from realizing what’s going forward,” Adan wrote to X in response to the letter.
Somaliland’s recently expanded port of Belbera is operated by DP World from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This is an important United States ally.
“The US is not stupid. They know who needs to deal with when it comes to Berbera Port,” the minister told Reuters.
For a long time, the United States has played a pivotal role in helping Somalia fight Islamic extremists associated with al-Qaeda and Islamic State Groups by providing intelligence and air force.
Al-Shabaab, who controls the herds of southern Somalia and central Somalia territorial lands, is considered al-Qaeda’s most successful affiliate.
Observers say Mogadishu is afraid to reduce our support, as Trump did during his first term.
In December, the Somali government signed a $600,000 (£492,000) annual agreement with Washington’s top lobbying company for advice on US-Somalia relations.
According to Reuters, a letter to Trump dated March 16 explains how exclusive management of the airbase and ports provided can counter the influence of other international players in the Horn of Africa.
“These strategically placed assets provide an opportunity to strengthen America’s involvement in the region… whilst preventing external competitors from establishing their presence in this important corridor,” he said.
But the federal government setup in Somali may supper President Mohamud’s offer for Bosaso Port, located in the semi-autonomous northeastern region of Pantoland.
Officials there have not yet commented on the letter, but the online publication of Garou, Somali, states that if the offer is made without consulting them. The relationship between Pantoland and Mogadishu can be even more tense.
The second air base mentioned is in Beledgur, northwest of the capital, with US soldiers already having the presence of training Somali forces to fight Al-Shabaab.
It’s not the first time that the Somaliland port has been the source of controversy.
Last year, Turkey intervened to end a feud that threatened to escalate into a regional conflict after inland Ethiopia signed a maritime contract with Somaliland to build a port there.
Somalia responded by calling Somaliland “acts of attack” as part of its territory.
