A significant development has emerged in US foreign policy as a bill has been introduced in Congress advocating for the formal recognition of Somaliland. The proposal, designated as H.R.10402, was put forth by Republican Congressman Perry Scott of Pennsylvania.
The bill aims to acknowledge Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia over three decades ago, as a separate and independent country. Somaliland, officially known as the Republic of Somaliland, is located in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Djibouti to the northwest, Ethiopia to the south and west, and Somalia to the east. With a territory spanning approximately 176,120 square kilometers (68,000 square miles) and a population of around 6.2 million as of 2024, Somaliland’s capital is Hargeisa.
Despite its long-standing push for international recognition, the government in Mogadishu has responded to the bill with strong disapproval, labeling it an act of “aggression.”
As the situation unfolds, the implications of this bill could have significant effects on the region and the dynamics between Somaliland and Somalia.
