The Somaliland Partnership Act
The act is a bipartisan effort and was praised by U.S. Senators. The goal is to develop an economic relationship between Somaliland and the United States.
Bipartisan legislation
A bipartisan bill has passed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, advancing the recognition of Somaliland as a sovereign nation. It will now be considered by the full Senate. The bill would require the Departments of State and Defense to study the feasibility of a security partnership between the two countries. The measure is a significant step towards strengthening ties between the United States and Somalia.
The Somaliland delegation met with US Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) and Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) as well as the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate's Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy. It also met with House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairs Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and Greg Meeks (D-New York), and Rep. Adam Smith (D-Washington) as well as the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. The bipartisan legislation is supported by Reps. Steve Chabot (D-Ohio) and Young Kim (D-California), Reps. Brian Mast (FL-FL), and Rep. John Lewis (NH-3)
The Biden Administration has been less enthusiastic about Somaliland's offer to grant the United States military access to Berbera. The State Department still insists that the United States should support the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, which it claims to Recognize Somaliland. However, the Pentagon and US Africa Command have shown interest in the proposal. Last month, US Ambassador Larry Andre and US Africa Command Commander Stephen Townsend met with President Abdi in Berbera.
Report to Congress
The United States Senate recently approved a new law that requires the US Department of State to study cooperation channels with Somaliland. The law will require the State Department to conduct a feasibility study to assess the prospect of a security partnership with the region. The Act also requires the State Department to develop a report for the Congress on the prospects for a partnership with Somaliland.
The Somaliland Partnership Act was introduced by Sen. Jim Risch in March 2022. He argued that the challenges in the Horn of Africa warrant a comprehensive investigation into relationships with democratic partners in the region. He said he looks forward to working with the State Department on this legislation. He also argued in his presentation before U.S. lawmakers that the current policy of a'single Somalia' is outdated and limits the role of other democratic actors in the region.
In June, the Somaliland Partnership Act advanced to the Senate where it passed unanimously. After removing some controversial language, the act remains true to its original intent. The act's passage was greeted with great enthusiasm by Somaliland's mission in the US.
Feasibility study
On June 11, the United States Senate passed the Somaliland Partnership Act, requiring the US Department of State to report on its engagement with Somaliland and conduct a feasibility study of a partnership with the Somaliland government. The act requires the US State Department to conduct the study in consultation with the Secretary of Defense. Its supporters in the Senate are Senators Jim Risch, Chris Van Hollen, and Mike Rounds.
The bill aims to strengthen cooperation between the United States and Somaliland, a nation that declared its independence from Somalia in 1991. It has sought international recognition for its independence and has begun a formal dialogue on the matter. In March, Somaliland's President Musa Bihi Abdi led a delegation to Washington. In June, the two sides met again in Djibouti, where they agreed to continue discussions. The two sides appointed technical committees to help them resolve their differences.
Senator Risch's legislation aims to establish a new partnership with Somaliland to counter extremists and bolster civil liberties in the region. It requires the State Department and the Department of Defense to conduct an assessment of the security forces and rule of law in Somaliland.
Rules of engagement
A recent event at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC, featured President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, the leader of Somaliland. He spoke about the country's future and the importance of U.S. engagement in Somaliland. The Somaliland Partnership Act, introduced by three U.S. senators, paints a rosy picture of the region, calling for closer engagement between the United States and Somaliland.
The Somaliland government has faced challenges in implementing democracy. In November 2017, it held presidential elections, and Muse Bihi Abdi, of the Peace, Unity and Development Party (Kulmiye), was elected as the country's president. The country is planning parliamentary and municipal elections for next year.
But a recent conflict in the Horn of Africa has thrown the fragile stability of the region into disarray and jeopardized prospects for peaceful resolutions. The Ethiopian civil war, with Eritrean involvement, and political infighting in Somalia have exacerbated instability and prompted the U.S. to reconsider its engagement strategy in the region.
