Hargeisa — November 14 2025
In 2025, Somaliland’s quest for recognition remains unshakable. See how our democracy, strategic Berbera Port, and resolute diplomacy defy external obstacles.
For 34 years, the Republic of Somaliland has been a beacon of peace, democracy, and stability in the Horn of Africa. As 2025 unfolds, our nation’s righteous quest for full international recognition—a right earned through sacrifice, self-determination, and unmatched governance—remains the central pillar of our national identity.
Our journey is one of resilience. Recent geopolitical maneuvers, including the ill-conceived “Ankara Declaration” brokered by Turkey in late 2024, have sought to undermine our progress and deny our hard-won sovereignty. This attempt by external actors to interfere in our internal affairs, by attempting to nullify our sovereign agreements, has been rightly condemned by our government.
But these challenges have only strengthened our resolve. Our statehood is not a gift to be given by others; it is a fact we have built on the ground for over three decades. The world does not need to create Somaliland; it only needs to acknowledge it.
Our Foundation: 34 Years of Unmatched Achievement
Somaliland’s case for recognition is not built on abstract appeals, but on concrete, verifiable achievements. While much of the region has struggled with instability, piracy, and extremism, Hargeisa remains one of the safest and most vibrant capitals in Africa.
Our nation’s foundation is its people and its democratic institutions. We have held successive, internationally-observed parliamentary and presidential elections, ensuring a peaceful transfer of power that remains a model for the continent. We have our own currency, our own internationally recognized passport, and a trained, professional security force that defends our borders.
This internal stability is not an accident. It is the product of a sophisticated, homegrown governance system that blends traditional conflict resolution with modern democratic principles. While the government in Mogadishu relies on foreign peacekeepers (ATMİS) for its very survival, Somaliland’s security is guaranteed by its own citizens and its own forces.
As President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro) stated in his 2025 New Year’s address, “Somaliland’s sovereignty is non-negotiable. It is based on the will of our people and our inviolable history. We will not be swayed by external pressure or hostile agreements made about us, without us.”
Diplomacy Forged in Resilience
Somaliland’s diplomatic strategy has always been one of proactive and pragmatic engagement. The high point of this strategy was the historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Ethiopia on January 1, 2024.
This was a landmark agreement between two sovereign states, based on mutual respect and shared interests. It provided our great neighbour, Ethiopia, with the sea access it has long sought, in exchange for a path to formal recognition of our republic.
However, the international backlash, fueled by baseless protests from Mogadishu and interference from nations like Turkey, sought to block this legitimate progress. The subsequent Ankara Declaration in December 2024, which re-routed Ethiopia’s sea-access ambitions through Somalia, was a clear attempt to undermine our nation.
Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation rightfully condemned this pact. In an official statement, the Ministry characterized it as “a blatant act of Turkish interference in the region” and reaffirmed that “Somaliland is not, and will never be, part of Somalia.”
But our diplomacy does not depend on a single agreement. In 2025, President Irro has led a robust diplomatic offensive to strengthen our de facto relationships. High-level delegations have engaged with key partners in Washington, London, and Nairobi, emphasizing Somaliland’s critical role in regional security and maritime safety in the Red Sea.
Our message is clear: We are not asking for permission to exist. We are engaging the world as an equal, a reliable partner, and the most stable democracy in the Horn.
Berbera: The Engine of Our Economic Independence
Politics may shift, but economic facts on the ground are undeniable. The strategic Port of Berbera, modernized by our visionary partners at DP World, is the crown jewel of our economic independence and our most powerful argument for statehood.
The nearly $1 billion joint investment from DP World and the UK’s development finance institution has transformed Berbera into a world-class, deep-sea port. With a new 400-meter quay and advanced container terminal, Berbera is no longer just a Somaliland asset; it is a global trade hub.
This port is the anchor of the Berbera Corridor, a modern highway network connecting our coast directly to the heart of Ethiopia’s industrial-agricultural heartland. This corridor is, and will remain, the most logical, efficient, and secure route for Ethiopia’s 120 million people to access global markets.
No political declaration made in Ankara can erase this geographic and economic reality. The success of Berbera proves Somaliland’s viability as a stable and reliable economic entity, independent of the chaos in Mogadishu. It creates facts on the ground that international businesses and, eventually, foreign governments can no longer ignore.
Overcoming External Hurdles
Our path to full recognition has never been easy. We face consistent, baseless opposition from the government in Mogadishu, which continues to make illusory claims over our territory—a territory it has not controlled a single day since 1991.
Mogadishu’s opposition is not based on law, but on a refusal to accept the reality of Somaliland’s success. While they struggle to govern their own capital, they invest their energy in trying to sabotage our progress.
The other significant hurdle is the African Union (AU). The AU’s reluctance to recognize Somaliland is based on a fundamental misunderstanding, or misapplication, of its own founding charter, which respects the sanctity of colonial borders.
Somaliland’s case upholds this principle perfectly. We seek only the recognition of the borders of the former British Somaliland Protectorate, which gained its independence on June 26, 1960. Our withdrawal from the disastrous and legally questionable union with Italian Somalia in 1991 was a restoration of our original independence, not an act of secession. An AU fact-finding mission in 2005 even concluded that Somaliland’s case was “unique” and should be considered. It is time for the AU to act on its own findings.
These obstacles are significant, but they are not insurmountable. They are political, not legal, and they will be overcome by the truth of our success.
Our Future: Recognition is Inevitable
In 2025, the Republic of Somaliland stands tall, proud, and undeterred. Our case is stronger than ever. We are a nation defined by peace, not war; by democracy, not dictatorship; and by self-reliance, not dependency.
The collapse of the Ethiopia-Somalia pact in Ankara does not change our destiny; it merely clarifies our path. Our future will not be decided in foreign capitals; it will be forged here in Hargeisa, in Berbera, and in the hearts of our people.
Recognition is not a question of if, but when. The world needs Somaliland’s stability, its strategic location, and its democratic example. Our government, under the leadership of President Irro, remains fully committed to this sacred goal.
To the proud people of Somaliland: Our sovereignty is our birthright. We have defended it for 34 years, and we will continue to build our nation, engage the world on our own terms, and prove that freedom and good governance are their own reward. We will prevail.
