Somaliland offers to resist growing Chinese influence in Africa as it seeks US recognition

The territory, which split from Somalia 30 years ago and has growing links with Taiwan, is trying to win diplomatic support in Washington

Observers say its port of Berbera could offer a regional alternative to Djibouti, which hosts a Chinese military base

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Berbera port in Somaliland is strategically located in the Gulf of Aden. Photo: Getty Images

Published: 6:00pm, 15 Jan 2022

The self-declared state of Somaliland is seeking US recognition as it pitches itself as a counterweight to Chinese influence in the Horn of Africa.

There have been growing calls for Washington to set up a representative office in Somaliland, which welcomed a congressional staff delegation to its capital Hargeisa in mid-December.

Diplomats and observers have said that in return for opening a diplomatic office, or formal diplomatic recognition, the port of Berbera could help the United States diversify away from neighbouring Djibouti, where China has a military base and has funded and built ports and free-trade zones.

President Musa Bihi Abdi said at the time of the US fact-finding mission, mostly composed of Republican staff, that Somaliland was committed to working with democratic nations such as the US.

“We profoundly discussed Somaliland-US relations, stability, development, vibrant democracies and elections,” Abdi said.

The visit came a month after Somaliland Foreign Minister Essa Kayd Mohamoud and special envoy Edna Adan Ismail led a delegation to meet Washington officials.