The Somaliland Somalila region has rejected an attempt by the central government to give the United States exclusive control of a port and an air base in Berbera.
The city is in the strategic golf of Aden, on the northern coast of Somaliland. The territory, which declared independence in 1991 as in Somalia, descended to the Civil War, says that the facilities are not moving to give.
In a letter to the United States President Donald Trump viewed by Reuters’ News Agency, Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud also offered Port and Airbase in Somalia, saying that all four would strengthen U.S. security operations.
Somaliland Foreign Minister Abdirahman Dahir Aden rejected the move as « desperate ».
The signals given before Trump began their second term, have given Somaliland to expect the United States to become the first country in the world to recognize the self-discharged Republic, which has functioned as a de facto state for almost 34 years.
« There is nothing they can do to stop Somaliland’s next recognition, » Adan a X published in response to the letter.
The recently expanded port of Somaliland in Berbera is directed by DP World from the United Arab Emirates (United Arab Emirates): a key ally in the United States.
« The US is not stupid. They know who they have to deal with when it comes to the port of Berbera, » the minister told Reuters.
The United States has played a key role in helping Somalia fighting Islamist militants linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group by providing intelligence and air attacks.
Al-Shabab, which controls the territory strips in the south and central Somalia, is considered the most successful subsidiary of Al-Qaeda.
The observers say that Mogadiscio fears that Trump will reduce the support of the United States, as he did during the first term.
In December, the Somalia government signed a $ 600,000 (£ 492,000) agreement with a Washington Lobbying Company for advice on American relations.
The letter to Trump, which Reuters says is dated March 16, explains how the exclusive control of the airbases and ports offered could help the United States to counteract the influence of other international players on the Horn of Africa, a probable reference to China and Russia.
« These strategically positioned assets offer an opportunity to strengthen the North -American Commitment in the region … while also preventing external competitors from establishing a presence in this critical hallway, » he said.
But Somalia’s federal configuration can also search the Bosas port offer, which is in the semi-autonomous region of northeastern Puntland.
Officials do not yet have to comment on the letter, but Somalia’s online publication says that if the offer was made without consulting them. The relationships between Puntland and Mogadiscio can be strained more.
The second air base is in Baladogle, northwest of the capital, where American soldiers already have a Somalian formation of formation to fight Al-Shabab.
This is not the first time a port in Somaliland has been a source of dispute.
Last year, Turkey intervened to end a feud that threatened to warm up in a regional conflict after Ethiopia without land signed a maritime agreement with Somaliland to build a port.
Somalia responded by calling the movement an « act of aggression », as it is in Somaliland as part of its territory.
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