The Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
By Prof. Nassir Hussein Kahin, bridgingsomaliland.com
Part II –Somaliland at the Crossroads: Breaking the “One Somalia” Myth.
Washington is now seeing an unprecedented push from Republican lawmakers to break with the “One Somalia” policy. The latest example comes from two heavyweight committee chairs: Congressman John Moolenaar (R-MI), chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, and Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China.
The Travel Advisory Fight
In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Moolenaar and Smith urged the State Department to issue a separate travel advisory for Somaliland.
It may sound technical, but the stakes are high. Today, Somaliland is lumped into the same “Do Not Travel” warning as war-torn Somalia — a designation that scares off investors, aid organizations, and tourists. By separating Somaliland, the U.S. would take a concrete, symbolic step to acknowledge its stability and democracy, while paving the way for American commerce and investment.
The lawmakers argue that this is a matter of fairness and accuracy: Somaliland has held multiple democratic elections, secured its territory against al-Shabaab, and protected Red Sea waters from piracy. In contrast, Somalia remains plagued by terrorism and foreign-backed instability.
Cruz’s Recognition Push
The effort is not isolated. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) has gone further, openly urging President Trump to formally recognize Somaliland as a sovereign state. His case rests on Somaliland’s democratic credentials, its ties with Israel and Taiwan, and its clear record of stability in a volatile region.
Such calls represent a direct challenge to decades of bipartisan orthodoxy. For years, both Republican and Democratic administrations have clung to the “One Somalia” line, fearing that recognition might destabilize the Horn of Africa. But with Somalia itself fractured and foreign powers exploiting the vacuum, that logic is now being turned on its head.
Chipping Away at the Policy Wall
This campaign is not only about Somaliland. It is about reshaping how America sees Africa: not through the lens of failed states, but through the lens of democratic partnerships. By demanding concrete steps like a new travel advisory, Republicans are signaling that the time has come to move beyond empty slogans and toward pragmatic engagement.
