By Ali H Abdulla
Prelude
On August 14, 2025, Senator Ted Cruz issued a letter to President Donald J. Trump, urging him to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent state. This recommendation, if acted upon, would represent a direct challenge to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, contravene established U.S. foreign policy, and undermine international law and regional stability.
As Somali stakeholders, friends of Somalia, and defenders of the rules-based international order, we write to express our unequivocal opposition to this dangerous proposal and to urge the United States government to stand firmly with Somalia’s unity and the African Union’s peace and security framework.
Recent developments in northern Somalia underscore the fragility of the situation. The North East State (NES) has emerged from territory once under Somaliland’s control, following a devastating conflict that forced Somaliland’s withdrawal from parts of Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn. Although there is no active war today, Somaliland and NES forces face each other along tense frontlines—particularly around Erigavo, a contested city that Somaliland holds by force after forcibly expelling residents sympathetic to the new state. The potential for renewed hostilities remains high.
Rebuttal to the Recommendation
International Law and Norms Demand Respect for Territorial Integrity
The United Nations Charter obliges all member states to refrain from any actions that infringe on the territorial integrity and political independence of sovereign states. Somalia’s internationally recognized borders encompass Somaliland. Any unilateral recognition would violate this fundamental principle and set a precedent that threatens global stability.
The African Union’s Position is Clear and Binding
The African Union’s Constitutive Act, under Article 4(b), affirms the sanctity of borders inherited at independence. The AU has consistently maintained that Somaliland’s status must be addressed through a negotiated, Somalia-led or AU-facilitated process—not through unilateral acts by external powers.
U.S. Policy and UNSC Resolutions Uphold Somalia’s Unity
Successive U.S. administrations—Republican and Democrat alike—have reaffirmed Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity. The United Nations Security Council most recently reiterated this stance in December 2024. Abandoning this long-standing bipartisan position would isolate the United States from its African and global partners.
Risks of Regional Destabilization
The Horn of Africa is already grappling with heightened tensions, such as the Ethiopia–Somaliland MoU and armed clashes in Las Anod. Recognizing Somaliland unilaterally would inflame disputes, disrupt counter-terrorism cooperation, and jeopardize maritime security in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea.
Fueling Extremist Recruitment and Undermining Counter-Terrorism
Unilateral recognition of Somaliland would hand extremist groups such as al-Shabab a powerful propaganda and recruitment tool. These actors would frame the move as proof that Somalia’s sovereignty can be dismantled by foreign intervention, portraying it as an attack on the nation’s Islamic and national unity.
This narrative would inflame grievances, deepen mistrust toward Western governments, and undermine years of joint counter-terrorism efforts in the Horn of Africa. By validating secession over reconciliation, such recognition would embolden extremists across the region and weaken cooperative security partnerships vital to U.S. and Somali interests.
Conflict and Displacement Cannot be Ignored
The 2023–2024 Las Anod crisis resulted in widespread civilian casualties and mass displacement. Premature recognition would reward armed confrontation over peaceful resolution, undermining efforts toward reconciliation and justice for affected communities.
Constructive Alternatives Exist
The U.S. can deepen practical engagement with Hargeisa—on humanitarian, trade, and security matters—within the one Somalia policy framework. An AU-led dialogue between Mogadishu and Hargeisa remains the only legitimate path to resolving Somaliland’s status.
The Fallacy of ‘Historic’ Independence for Somaliland
Somaliland’s claim to statehood misrepresents history. In 1960, both British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland received independence as separate non-recognized entities with no membership in the UN—but only for days before voluntarily uniting to form the Somali Republic.
This union, recognized by the United Nations and the African Union’s predecessor (OAU), means the AU principle of respecting borders inherited at independence applies to Somalia’s current borders, not a revival of pre-union colonial lines. Recognition of Somaliland today would contradict the very African consensus it claims to rely upon.
A Call to Action
We respectfully urge the United States government to:
1) Reaffirm Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, in line with international law, U.S. policy, and UNSC resolutions, including respect for the colonial-era borders as they stood at the moment of independence in July 1960.
2) Reject unilateral recognition of Somaliland, supporting instead an African Union-facilitated process involving both the Federal Government of Somalia, Somaliland authorities, and newly formed regional administrations such as the North East State.
3) Promote constructive engagement that strengthens governance, stability, and prosperity across Somalia without prejudging sovereignty.
4) Support peacebuilding efforts and de-escalation in disputed territories, particularly Erigavo and other contested areas, where opposing forces remain in tense standoff.
Conclusion
Senator Cruz’s recommendation undermines the very principles that safeguard global peace and security. Upholding Somalia’s unity is not only consistent with international law and African consensus—it is also in the strategic interest of the United States, which benefits from a stable, cooperative, and sovereign Somalia in a geopolitically critical region.
We therefore call upon the White House and Congress to reject this ill-advised proposal and to reaffirm America’s commitment to Somalia’s sovereignty and to the African Union’s framework for resolving disputes peacefully.
Ali H. Abdulla
email: aliegeh@gmail.com
Las Anod, Somalia
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Ali is the former Sr. Advisor to SSC- Khaatumo State