Somaliland has strongly dismissed reports that Somalia offered the Berbera port to the United States, calling it an act of desperation.
Reacting to an article published by Semafor, Somaliland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdirahman Dahir Aden, described the alleged offer as a sign of Somalia’s frustration.
“This is a desperate and baseless move by a failed government,” Aden stated. “It reflects a corrupt regime on its death bed, engaging in a self-destructive mission. Somalia has no say in Somaliland’s future recognition.”
Meanwhile, Somaliland’s envoy to the U.S., Ambassador Bashir Good, reaffirmed that Berbera is located in a neighboring country to Somalia, and the Somali government has no authority over it. He highlighted that Washington has already established direct engagement with Somaliland, eliminating the need for a third party.
Ambassador Good further noted that Somaliland maintains ongoing cooperation with the U.S., particularly in exploring how America can benefit from Berbera’s strategic location. He revealed that AFRICOM delegations have visited the port multiple times to assess its potential.
According to Semafor, a leaked letter from President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud allegedly requested the U.S. to take control of Berbera, Bosaso, and the military base in Baledogle—reportedly as a strategy to deter Washington from recognizing Somaliland.
However, Somali government officials have denied the report, calling it baseless.
While the U.S. has yet to officially respond to the claims, former U.S. Special Envoy to Africa, J. Peter Pham, ridiculed Somalia’s alleged request, stating that it makes the Somali government appear clueless, given that it does not control Berbera or Bosaso.
