How Trump offers this African region “the largest opportunity”

The Cold War and bright asphalt land in the sunlight, towards the coastal line on the Horn of Africa. A few miles away, the berth workers unloaded the goods in a port on the Gulf of Aden, a vital global charging road often being attacked by the rebels from Yemen.

These two marine facilities in the city of Perbara belong to Somaliland, a pocket of about five million people who have worked independently of Somalia since 1991. Some Somalia sees the port and air attack as keys to achieve ambition for decades: international recognition.

Somalland has its currencies and passport, as well as controlling its foreign and military affairs. Several independent elections were widely praised. Now, you want to make a deal with President Trump, in which the United States will rent each port and flying defender in exchange for the long -awaited country.

Somalia says that obtaining support from the most powerful country in the world will lead to a wider global investment and diplomatic and security relations. But some analysts fear that recognition of Somalia may lead to the disruption of the region, the strengthening of groups such as young people and the closure of US allies such as Egypt, Turkey and the African Union, who are afraid that the move will move a precedent for separatist movements throughout Africa.

The timing may be auspicious. The Trump administration is studying Close her embassy in MogadishuThe capital of Somalia, citing the security risks. The ongoing attacks from the Houthis disrupted international shipping, which increased the increasing instability in the region. With the rise in trade war with China, a new foothold on the continent can help face the Chinese influence.

“My people and my people hope that President Trump’s mentality will recognize Somalia,” President Abdel -Rahman Mohamed Abdullah said last month in an interview with the New York Times in the Presidential Palace in Hargisa. “This is our biggest chance.”

Mr. Abdullah plans to visit Washington in the coming months. The deal, which is depicted by an American military base along the coastal line, which is 500 miles in the region, which embraces the Gulf of Aden. Such arrival would give the United States a decisive presence on a major shipping road and a monitoring strategy point Conflict In the region, including in Somalia.

Last week, the leadership of General Michael E. Langeli Africa to caution The Senate Armed Services Committee on the escalation of threats from the youth group linked to the base and ISIS, which he said directed its global operations from Somalia. “They left without deterrent, they will have a direct impact on the homeland,” he said.

Some Republican leaders and allies of Mr. Trump call for a reassessment of the United States’ policy towards Somalia, pointing to fears of constant instability in the country. Somalia is among the countries Facing a full travel ban Under proposed restrictions from the Trump administration.

The United States is currently He has a base in neighboring DjiboutiBesides Chinese and European military operations. Somalil will be a less crowded option to monitor the waterway and launch potential strikes against Houthi goals in YemenSomalia officials say.

Al Qaeda will be associated with 2.6 -miles, one of the tallest landing slides in Africa. The airport was built by the Soviet Union in the mid -seventies of the last century and was rented by NASA to capture space shutters. It was recently renewed by the United Arab Emirates, but it is still vacant.

Somalland is one of the few places in Africa that has maintained close diplomatic relations with Taiwan and put itself as an indispensable American ally to stand. China and its broad impact on the continent.

“Many countries, when they were forced to choose between the United States and China, choose the latter,” said Mr. Abdullah in a letter to Mr. Trump, obtained by the Times. “We have chosen constantly – and we will continue to choose – America, Taiwan and other free democratic partners.”

On the afternoon of the incendiary in Hargisa last month, Eddin condemned to sort through piles of folders in her office.

At eight and eight years of age, she walks quickly and does not show any sign of the slowdown in her work as a nurse and activist Founder of the main and university maternity hospital In the city that bears its name.

In the early first decade of the twentieth century, Mrs. Adan worked as the first foreign minister in Goliland. It still talks enthusiastically about how Somalia and Somalland always have been separate states.

Somalland was a British reserve until its independence on June 26, 1960. A few days later, it merged with Somalia, which is run by the Italian to form the Somali Republic. Almost immediately, fasting was marginalized and negligent by the new government.

Then, in the eighties, due to political marginalization and repression, There was an open rebellion Against Mogadishu. Somali army, under the dictator Siad Bar, Wide -ranging metaphors carried out. Somalland says that the union has been officially resolved by the central government in Somalia Collapse In 1991.

But no country was ready to provide global recognition in Somalia, which limits its ability to sign security agreements, reach international markets, and formally participate in International Sports or Correctly control the airspace.

“Our voice deprived us,” Mrs. Eddan said. “We have deprived us of a place to tell our story.”

Global attention was fluctuated on Somalia’s efforts to independence independence until last year, when the former president risked. On January 1, 2024, Somaliland announced it was A deal signed Allow Ethiopia to build a naval facility on its coast in exchange for confession.

Ethiopia has publicly not committed to recognition of Somalland as an independent country. But the agreement was launched A major diplomatic and military confrontation With Somalia, concerns about a broader regional conflict raised that would withdraw the opponents of Ethiopia for a long time, Eritrea and Egypt. After Turkish mediation, Somalia and Ethiopia agreed to end their conflict in December.

But the confrontation had another impact: re -focusing attention on the strategic assets of Somaliland, including its natural resources.

Orena Zhang, a former American Taiwanese investor with Morgan Stanley, recently worked with a mixture of American and Somali geologists to draw rare ground mineral sites across Somalia. She said that the agencies, including the American International Development Finance Corporation, showed interest in investing in projects.

She said: “The United States government is now more interested in Somalland than before.” “Suddenly, people call.”

Somali officials in Washington I rented Compression company with deep republican links to help approach Mr. Trump.

Last month, Somalia, the President of Somalia, wrote his own message to Mr. Trump, where he presented the exclusive control of the United States on two air and two bases – including the port in Beruba. Somalland officials rejected this offer as “desperate”, stressing that Somalia did not have the power to provide the United States with an unpublished origin.

“It seems that they were on a suicide mission, and there is nothing they could do to stop the upcoming recognition of Somalland,” said Abdel -Rahman Dhahir Eddan, Foreign Minister of the region, who met officials in Washington last week, in an interview.

Although it seeks global recognition, Somalland suffers from many local challenges, including high unemployment, persistent poverty and inequality.

Tensions between China and Somalland escalated when it opened Taiwan A. Acting office In Hargeisa in 2020, Taiwan spent millions of dollars Support military trainingAgriculture, medicine and infrastructure in Somalia.

China recently met with officials from and I gave help To an area in East Somalland, which contradicts the government in Hargisa. Observers and officials say this step was aimed at shaking Somalia Get it to give up Its relationships with Taiwan. On Saturday, the Somalia Prime Minister arrived in the disputed area on a planned visit, the Somali News Agency I mentionedAnd it is the step of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Somaliland The name “Divide” and “Timing Patient”.

“It will be really considered a great setback for the Chinese if the United States recognizes Somaliland,” said Eric Uander, founder of China-Global South Project, said. “If Somalland decreases in this way, he enters itself in a conflict with China that will never escape from it.”

In addition to the fear that recognition of Somalland can sow long -term problems in the region, some analysts say it can become associated with American divisions.

Without support from the two parties, Somalild can also be considered a pet issue for Republicans in Congress, which leads to a violent reaction within the framework of a future democratic administration, the observers say.

Currently, these are all risks that Somalland says are ready to take it. “For 34 years, we have proven to the world that we are an example of peace and stability,” said Hafsa Omer, 22, who founded the Hargisa basketball team. “Give me our confession now.”