Recognizing Somaliland Would Recognize American Values

The Horn of Africa’s best democracy is key to a more peaceful continental order.

This article is part of The Forum’s Debate Series, in which student writers take opposing sides on issues of importance to public life. Read the other side of the debate here.

A woman celebrates her nation’s independence in 2025. Credit: Somaliland.com

The Republic of Somaliland celebrated its 34th annual independence day on May 18 with parades, song, and oratory. Somaliland issues its own currency and passports. It is the only democracy in the Horn of Africa and has achieved relative prosperity despite seceding from Somalia, a nation now globally synonymous with state failure. Yet, only the Republic of China (Taiwan) has afforded any recognition to the festivities—and Somalilander independence writ large. 

The present-day Republic of Somaliland comprises the sector of coastal Northern Somali territory formerly under British rule. It gained independence in 1960, separately from the former Italian colonies of Somali. However, it sought immediate reunion as part of the independence requirements for the British and Italian colonies. The Southern, formerly Italian-aligned leadership came to rule the union and Somaliland began its first attempt to seize independence in an unsuccessful 1961 revolt.

After a period of political turmoil typical of post-colonial states, Somalia came under the communist rule of General Siad Barre. This arrangement was opposed by the Somali National Movement and finally ended in 1991 as the disintegration of the communist regime left the nation in chaos. The clans comprising Somaliland declared independence. This was initially seen as a temporary measure, but the escalating nature of the wider Somali conflict in their southern region led voters to overwhelmingly approve a constitution, finalizing the nation’s independence in 2001.

No member of the United Nations has recognized the Republic of Somaliland, and the non-UN member Taiwan only extended its recognition in 2020. Despite this, practically every expert on the region has recognized its success. The new constitution successfully produced a relatively strong democracy that has seen several peaceful transfers of power. Development specialist Seth Kaplan argues that Somaliland succeeded by rooting democratic practice in “traditional Somali concepts of governance by consultation and consent” that built a vibrant civil society. Early gatherings to form the state included “elders, religious leaders, politicians, civil servants, intellectuals, and businesspeople” and incorporated the already existing frameworks of civil society governance into formal institutions. To maintain this cohesion, political parties are required to draw support across regions, preventing purely clan or ethnicity centered movements from gaining power.

However, Kaplan also recognizes that Somaliland, while exceptional in handling the challenges of post-colonial statehood, still suffers from issues of “nepotism and clannism.” “Corruption is rife,” particularly in its barely meritocratic civil service. The recent 2024 presidential election saw significant outbreaks of violence. Nonetheless, opposition candidate Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi was victorious and the republic saw another peaceful and orderly transfer of power once the votes were cast. The situation is not perfect, but the international human rights non-profit Freedom House rates Somaliland as being roughly as free as Bosnia or Thailand in terms of civil and political liberties. Somalia, in contrast, is comparable to Afghanistan, Syria, or Myanmar.

By failing to recognize Somaliland, the United States has failed to recognize an objective reality on the ground. The republic has proved itself able to self-govern over decades and does so leaps and bounds better than any regional actor. Recognizing the reality on the ground offers an opportunity to further both American values and American interests. The United States has no basis upon which to deny diplomatic recognition to a relative beacon of liberty and democratic practices in a region where both are lacking—despite America’s attempts at democracy promotion. Indeed, it is ludicrous to devote resources and rhetoric to promoting democratization in Africa while denying support to a democracy that built itself without an American crutch.

The burgeoning alliance between Taiwan and Somaliland demonstrates Somaliland’s orientation against the interests of Chinese economic expansion, which has come to dominate the developing economies of Africa. American diplomats publicly encourage Guatemala, Paraguay, and other allies to stand by Taiwan in the face of diplomatic depredations from China. Meanwhile, we have failed to support one of these select few nations affording Taiwan with full diplomatic ties. As recently as June 24, Taiwan and Somaliland agreed to joint development of their mutual coast guard forces, a vital move as fears of a Chinese land invasion of Taiwan continue. The United States cannot participate fully in guaranteeing the safety of Taiwan without the ability to work with Taiwan’s newest crucial defense partner. 

The move might not be as far away as it once seemed. The recognition of Somaliland by the United States was a centerpiece of the agenda for African foreign policy proposed by the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, though the niche proposal gained far less media attention than the hundreds of significantly more controversial suggestions. Nigel Farage, the leader of Britain’s right-wing populist Reform UK party recently dominating polls, has also voiced his support for recognizing Somaliland’s independence.

Pennsylvania Representative Scott Perry introduced House legislation recognizing Somaliland in 2023. The movement has regained some steam as of May 2025 when The Guardian reported that the Trump Administration might use recognition of Somaliland as a means of securing a strategic position in the Gulf of Aden, near where the Yemeni Houthi organization has targeted American ships. This would protect American interests in the regional oil economy. Lending credence to the report, senior leadership of the United States Army recently visited Somaliland’s capital of Hargeisa. 

United States policy is on the right track, but it has not gone far enough. Only the complete and total recognition of the independence of Somaliland can open the door to full diplomatic cooperation in a key region for American interests. Most importantly, only this level of recognition aligns with the American ethos of global democratization.