Somaliland opposes Somalia’s plan to hand U.S. control of Gulf of Aden ports
Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland has strongly dismissed Mogadishu’s proposal to grant the United States control over two strategic ports on the Gulf of Aden, calling it a “desperate and misguided” move.
The remarks came from Somaliland’s Foreign Minister, Abdirahman Dahir Adan, who criticised the Somali government in a statement posted on X. “
This is a desperate and misguided attempt by the failed state of Somalia. This is indicative of a corrupt regime on its last breath, engaged in a suicide mission,” Adan wrote, adding that Somalia’s actions would not prevent Somaliland from gaining international recognition.
His comments followed a report by Semafor revealing that Somalia had offered Washington “exclusive operational control” over key Gulf of Aden ports in an apparent effort to deter the U.S. from recognising Somaliland’s independence. However, the Somali government does not control these assets, making the offer largely symbolic.
It was reported early on in December that the Trump administration was weighing the possibility of recognising Somaliland as part of its strategic efforts to counter Chinese influence in the Horn of Africa.
Adan reiterated that Mogadishu had no power to halt Somaliland’s pursuit of recognition, stating that it was only a matter of time before the region’s sovereignty was acknowledged on the global stage.
