The president of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, has declared that international recognition for the breakaway territory is “on the horizon,” citing ongoing high-level engagements with the United States, including what he describes as encouraging discussions with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
In an exclusive interview published by The Guardian UK, Abdullahi expressed confidence that Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has never been internationally recognized, is now closer than ever to achieving its decades-long goal of statehood.
“Recognition is on the horizon,” said Abdullahi, speaking from the presidential palace in Hargeisa. “It’s not a matter of if, but when—and who will lead the recognition of Somaliland.”
According to The Guardian, Somaliland sources suggest that the Trump team is actively weighing the option of recognizing the territory in exchange for a strategic U.S. military presence in Berbera, a port city on the Gulf of Aden. The move would give the U.S. a critical foothold in a region where China is expanding its influence, particularly in neighboring Djibouti where Beijing maintains a growing military and economic presence.
U.S. military officials, including senior personnel responsible for the Horn of Africa, have reportedly visited Somaliland in recent months. A formal evaluation of Berbera’s strategic potential is expected soon, as per Abdullahi’s account to The Guardian.
The potential for U.S. recognition has alarmed Somalia, which considers Somaliland part of its sovereign territory, and could destabilize a region already beset by Islamist insurgency and geopolitical rivalries. Somalia has not commented directly on the Trump-Abdullahi meetings, but officials have previously warned that any recognition of Somaliland would be seen as a breach of Somalia’s territorial integrity.
A shift in U.S. policy would mark a dramatic departure from Washington’s long-held “one Somalia” stance. Former British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, a vocal proponent of Somaliland’s recognition, told The Guardian that elements within Trump’s circle are advocating for a change, and he believes official U.S. recognition could come before the end of Trump’s second term—if re-elected.
“I was talking to a few people this week, and the thing I was getting from them is that it [recognition] is getting there,” said Williamson. “They’ve already started shifting away from the one Somalia policy.”
Recognition would not only validate Somaliland’s political autonomy but also unlock access to international aid, development finance, and broader diplomatic partnerships. Somaliland, with a population of around five million, has held regular democratic elections and maintains relative stability in contrast to the volatile situation in southern Somalia.
Also central to Somaliland’s growing relevance is the port of Berbera, which has seen over $440 million in investment from the United Arab Emirates. The port is part of a broader geopolitical puzzle that includes Ethiopia’s ambition for maritime access and U.S. concerns about Red Sea security—particularly in light of recent Houthi disruptions to international shipping and American retaliatory airstrikes launched from carriers off Somaliland’s coast.
Adding a controversial layer to the discourse, The Guardian also reported on behind-the-scenes speculation that Somaliland could become a destination for resettling Palestinians displaced from Gaza—a concept that, while not officially endorsed by Somaliland or the U.S., has circulated amid discussions of post-war solutions in the Middle East.
Aidrous Osman Hussain, deputy director of Somaliland’s refugee department, acknowledged that Palestinians have been relocating to Somaliland since the early 2000s. “Palestinians have been moving here for a long time,” he said. “Somaliland welcomes all refugees.”
Abdullahi emphasized that no formal discussions on Gaza resettlement are underway. “We are a hospitable people. They, the Palestinians, are our brothers. If they decide to come on their own, we don’t mind. But there is no discussion on that issue with the Palestinians or with any other country,” he told The Guardian.
Somaliland is already home to thousands of refugees from Syria, Sudan, and other conflict zones. For Abdullahi, international recognition is not just about political legitimacy—it’s about enhancing the capacity to help others. “If Somaliland gets recognition, we can help share the burden; we can help more people,” Hussain added.
As the U.S. grapples with its strategic options in the Horn of Africa and Trump weighs the geopolitical benefits of supporting Somaliland, the coming months may determine whether this unrecognized state finally receives a seat at the global table—or continues its long wait in diplomatic limbo.
