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HARGEISA, Republic of Somaliland — U.S. Ambassador to Somalia Richard H. Riley and Major General Brian Cashman, Commander of the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), are set to arrive in Somaliland in the coming days for high-level talks with President-elect Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi “Cirro.” The delegation, which will also attend Cirro’s inauguration ceremony alongside representatives from the U.S. Embassy and expected congressional staffers, marks an unprecedented level of U.S. diplomatic and military engagement with the Republic of Somaliland. While not confirmed, sources indicate the delegation may also meet with outgoing President Muse Bihi Abdi.
The upcoming visit marks a stark departure from previous U.S. engagement. Under Ambassador Riley’s predecessor Larry André, relations with Somaliland were hampered by an almost zealous adherence to the ‘One Somalia’ policy. André, along with Assistant Secretary Molly Phee, were often described by State Department colleagues as ‘more Catholic than the Pope’ in their rigid stance—seemingly prioritizing the ‘One Somalia’ policy over U.S. strategic interests in the region. Their approach appeared to go beyond diplomatic caution into active appeasement of Mogadishu, even when it potentially undermined U.S. security interests in the Horn of Africa.
Diplomatic sources suggest multiple interpretations of the visit’s timing. However, former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Tibor Nagy suggests a more straightforward diplomatic purpose. “Normally such a visit would signal U.S. officials’ interest in meeting with new heads-of-state to discuss U.S. engagement priorities,” Nagy noted, adding that under the current ‘one Somalia’ policy, such engagement falls under the U.S. Ambassador to Somalia’s responsibilities. Nagy emphasized that Somaliland should use this opportunity to “aggressively promote its priorities – including formal recognition and its value as a strategic partner of the U.S.”
The timing coincides with Somaliland’s inclusion in the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025” roadmap, designed for a potential Republican administration, which explicitly supports Somaliland’s recognition. Additionally, Somaliland recently signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ethiopia, granting military and commercial access to its coastline in exchange for potential recognition.
General Cashman’s presence underscores AFRICOM’s evolving approach to regional security, particularly given China’s expanding presence in neighboring Djibouti. Berbera Port’s strategic location and modernized facilities have become central to these calculations, offering potential alternative access points for U.S. military operations in the region. In 2021, the U.S. Department of Defense conducted capability tests at Berbera Airport using C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. This was followed by a significant visit in 2022 from then-AFRICOM Commander General Stephen Townsend, who personally assessed Berbera’s strategic potential. These previous high-level military engagements have laid the groundwork for increased U.S.-Somaliland security cooperation.
For President-elect Cirro, U.S. engagement presents unprecedented opportunities amid complex challenges. The convergence of U.S. diplomatic interest, military engagement, and the potential for recognition through Project 2025 opens new possibilities for Somaliland’s international standing, even as his administration navigates the implementation of the Ethiopian agreement and domestic challenges.
AFRICOM, the U.S. Embassy in Somalia, and members of the Somaliland Presidential transition team did not respond to multiple requests for comment regarding this article.