US Senators introduce the Somaliland Partnership Act MARCH 17, 2022 RISCH, VAN HOLLEN, ROUNDS INTRODUCE SOMALILAND LEGISLATION WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, today introduced the Somaliland Partnership Act to require the Department of State to report to Congress on engagement with Somaliland, and to conduct a feasibility study, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, regarding the establishment of a partnership between the United States and Somaliland. “The United States continues to be a steadfast partner of the Somali people and its federal government, but the Biden Administration has limited itself to the confines of a ‘single Somalia’ policy at the detriment of other democratic actors in the country,” said Risch. “In this complex time in global affairs and for the Horn of Africa, the United States should explore all possible mutually-beneficial relationships with stable and democratic partners, like Somaliland, and not limit ourselves with outdated policy approaches and diplomatic frameworks that don’t meet today’s challenges.” “As the Horn of Africa faces increasingly destabilizing currents, enhancing our cooperation with those in the region that value democratic governance and fundamental freedoms is key to advancing U.S. interests, improving regional stability, and supporting the rule of law and human rights. For decades, Somaliland has proven itself to be an area with a stable, thriving democracy amidst a sea of conflict. That’s why increasing opportunities for U.S. engagement with Somaliland makes sense. Our bill will help ensure the United States explores the greater possibilities of this mutually-beneficial relationship,” said Van Hollen. Background: The Republic of Somaliland received independence from the United Kingdom on June 26, 1960, prior to the creation of the Somali Republic, and has been a self-declared independent and sovereign state since 1991 that is not internationally recognized. Somaliland exists as a semi-autonomous region of the Federal Republic of Somalia. A delegation from Somaliland, led by President Musa Bihi Abdi, is in Washington this week to meet with Congress, Biden Administration officials, and the private sector. Last year, Risch introduced an NDAA amendment calling for a study regarding the feasibility of establishing a security and defense partnership with Somaliland, a provision incorporated and expanded upon in this bill. Text of the legislation can be found here.

Today, the Somaliland Delegation had a very fruitful meeting and luncheon with the Congress's Foreign Relations committee. Obviously one person was AWOL from the meeting. She can go to H**L, for all we care.

From the trenches of warfare, the corridors of global power, standing shoulder to shoulder.

Somaliland-American Conference, hosted by Mona Abdi Koosaar, co-host of ABCNews Good Morning America Show.

After yet another deadline missed. The US has expanded its sanctioned individuals list.

Somaliland delegation were at the Capitol Hill. Chuffed about the newfound partnership and engagement. Somaliland already put its house in order only needed a Superpower that sees its interests through it. This is in my opinion a slam-dunk in foreign relations.

The US Embassy wants to summon parliament of the damned on 14th of April. I will be laughing my guts out if that doesn't happen. Which is what is going to happen.

These are the scumbags of social media. I rather listen to Daahir Calasaw or Shiine Culey than these prepaid Farmaajo mouth pieces. At least they got humour whereas these scumbags have none.

Former head of National Security Council fully backs US+Somaliland relationship.

Somaliland's business leaders also held talks with International Finance Corporation (IFC). Following advise from Taiwanese Government, Somaliland's largest businesses are combining their efforts to create an Investment Bank that will invest in big infrastructure projects in partnership with foreign banks and financial institutions as well as Somaliland's Government.

Somaliland Delegation held talks with the White House's National Security Council about ways the White House and Hargeisa can cooperate and work together. Also, the delegation held fruitful talks with the World Bank.

* Senate/House Foreign Relations [Checked] * White House National Security Council [Checked] * Department of Defence [Checked] * State Department [unchecked] Teaching the old dogs in the State Department new tricks may be a huge ask but we will try anyway. Senate and GOF Foreign Relations pressing the Executive for alternative proposals,

I see this as an investment, not an expense. It will help remove the shackles of operating outside the International State-2-State norms. Which will supercharge our development goals - which will help address droughts and unemployment issues.

There is a huge political divide between Ds and Rs. But when it comes to Africa, they are more or less the same policy. I don't think the Ds will object to this low hanging fruit policy change in order to get favourable voting from the Rs for other issues. Non-the-less, there is going to be a seismic shift from the American side. The UK already is working with Hargeisa in a number of things but will not stick out like a sore thumb. That is what they excel at, behind the curtains support. America is the loud mouthed one that can move things more openly. With US and UK in the bag, I think the rest will get into line, specially EU which is currently being hamstrung by Italy's objections vis-a-vis policy towards Somaliland. But individual states within the EU will move independently of Brussels.

These are some of the biggest guns in American Politics both from Republican and Democrats. Lead Republican Michael McCaul (R-TX), Rep. Chris (R-NJ), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI), Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), Rep. Young Kim (R-CA), and Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) For America, Somaliland is a low hanging fruit that offers tremendous a huge leg up in its competition against China in the region.

McCaul, Smith Lead Bipartisan Letter on Increased Engagement with Somaliland Washington, D.C. – House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican Michael McCaul (R-TX), Africa, Global Health, and Global Human Rights Subcommittee Lead Republican Chris Smith (R-NJ), and other bipartisan House members sent a letter to Secretary Blinken calling for increased engagement with Somaliland. The letter was signed by: Lead Republican Michael McCaul (R-TX), Rep. Chris (R-NJ), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI), Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), Rep. Young Kim (R-CA), and Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) “We write to urge the Biden Administration to consider increasing and deepening engagement with Somaliland on issues of mutual diplomatic, economic, and security interests,” the lawmakers wrote. “Somaliland’s geo-strategic location on the Gulf of Aden, consistent support for democracy, cooperation on countering terrorism, piracy, and other security threats in the region, relations with Taiwan, and growing economic potential warrants that the United States explore additional opportunities to partner with Somaliland.” The full text of the letter can be found here and below. Dear Secretary Blinken We write to urge the Biden Administration to consider increasing and deepening engagement with Somaliland on issues of mutual diplomatic, economic, and security interests. Somaliland’s geo-strategic location on the Gulf of Aden, consistent support for democracy, cooperation on countering terrorism, piracy, and other security threats in the region, relations with Taiwan, and growing economic potential warrants that the United States explore additional opportunities to partner with Somaliland. Recent events in the Horn of Africa have upended feeble stability in the region and further jeopardized prospects for a peaceful resolution to multiple regional and domestic issues. With civil war embroiling Ethiopia, with Eritrean involvement; return to military rule in Sudan; delayed elections and political infighting fueling increasing instability in Somalia, amidst unabated terrorist activity by Al-Shabaab; and the worst drought the region has seen in over forty years, the U.S. must rethink our current strategy of engagement to address these immense challenges and the threats posed to U.S. national security interests. Somaliland has functioned autonomously for three decades—it maintains its own security, its own financial system, and its own trade relations. Several countries in the region, including Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Kenya, maintain diplomatic relations and trade with Somaliland, even though they don’t formally recognize its independence. Some appear to have increased their engagement in the past year: Ethiopia, for example, recently upgraded its diplomatic representation by promoting its representative in Hargeisa to the rank of ambassador, and Kenya opened a Liaison Office in Somaliland last year. The United Kingdom, European Union, United Arab Emirates and Turkey also have representation in Hargeisa. Strategic engagement with Somaliland would be a critical counterweight to China’s increasing investment in the Horn of Africa. Djibouti, which has long served as the U.S.’s staging ground for U.S. military operations in the region, has become vulnerable since China operationalized their own naval base just eight miles from Camp Lemonnier in 2017. One year later, two U.S. pilots suffered injuries from Chinese-deployed lasers, underscoring the significant threat presented to U.S. operations and regional access going forward. With Djibouti’s debt to China reportedly increasing to more than 70 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), China has ample leverage to gain a further foothold in the country and could conceivably pressure Djibouti for other political and strategic advantages that further undermine U.S. military operations. It is critical that the U.S. government pursues other strategic opportunities, like access to Berbera’s renovated airport and port, to safeguard our economic and security objectives in the Horn of Africa against further Chinese investment in Djibouti. Somaliland presents a democratic alternative, which has consistently resisted China’s encroachment, and could ensure a continued U.S. presence on the Gulf of Aden. Somaliland also established bilateral relations with Taiwan in September 2020 and exchanged representation shortly after. Somaliland and Taiwan have maintained close engagement, and during the COVID-19 pandemic Taiwan provided Somaliland with donated COVID-19 vaccines. The U.S. should take steps to support a deepening relationship between the Somaliland and Taiwan, as required by the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act of 2019, (P.L. 116–135), which calls on the U.S. government to consider additional engagement with nations that have strengthened, enhanced, or upgraded relations with Taiwan. The federal government of Somalia, meanwhile, does not maintain relations with Taiwan. This Administration has stated that strengthening democracy and elevating democratic partners is a top global priority. Somaliland has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to hold peaceful, credible, and competitive elections and has shown a commitment to democracy and representative government for decades. USAID has partnered with the International Republican Institute and other civil society partners to support election preparations, increased transparency and voter education and deploy election observers, in fact Somaliland’s 2021 elections were the first in the world to be secured by biometric iris scans. Hargeisa has made important progress to advance democracy and effective governance and the Administration should seek to consolidate and reward this, particularly amidst further democratic backsliding elsewhere in the region. With these political, economic, and security imperatives in mind, we urge the Administration to increase diplomatic engagement with Somaliland officials, senior leadership travel, and consider a permanent presence in Hargeisa. Increased partnership with Somaliland should be a priority and will mutually benefit U.S. and Somaliland interests. We thank you for your attention to this important matter. https://gop-foreignaffairs.house.gov/press-release/mccaul-smith-lead-bipartisan-letter-on-increased-engagement-with-somaliland/

Russia waa ceebowday. This looks like a 3rd World country getting hunted down from above. Feel sorry for these young conscripts that were sent to their death. Btw, this is what is left of the 40 mile long convoy.

That is Diplomatic speak. The start of a different tone and policy. One of the things that will be coming is a Diplomatic office in Hargeisa which functions more or less like the UK's Office in Hargeisa "Almost an Embassy" which reports directly to London instead of UK's Embassy in Mogadishu. With regards to Garoowe-Fakenews-Online, How could anyone take them seriously; is beyond me, specially after they mislead you just days ago. Good luck.

Mission Possible: Changing USA's policy in the Horn of Africa.

This is why Mujaahid Muse is our President.

President Muse Biihi delivered his much anticipated keynote speech at the Heritage. Watch the recording below. The President of the Heritage Foundation, one of the most influential Lobby firms in Washington, has put his support behind Somaliland's independence. It makes sense. Washington's policy in the Horn of Africa needs rethink. And it can no longer ignore the only successful democracy in the region. Somaliland should be at the centre of Washington's policy in the Horn.

With China's aggressively consolidating the Horn of Africa as part of its sphere of influence both militarily and economically. Somaliland stands out as the only state that has totally rejected China's overtures. China dispatched a high level delegation from Beijin lead by China's top Africa Diplomat, they offered Hargeisa financial rewards and projects that will be financed by China's Africa Development fund. The Horn of Africa is slipping away from the Americans, the lacklustre response on the war in Tigray as well as the Chinese efforts to push America from its sole military base in the African continent in Djibouti, calls for drastic changes from Washington. These changes include looking into the region with new pair of eyes and aligning its policy with like minded countries like Somaliland. An opportunity for America to regain its influence in the region and chart a new path along with Taiwan exists. That is what the The Great Promise of Closer US-Somaliland Ties is gong touch upon in Muse's speech which is going to be delivered at the Heritage Institute in Washington. While in Washington, the President will have audience from top leadership in key institutions such as the White House's National Security Council, State Department, the Defence Department and as well as very important members of the Congress and Senate. Members of the Delegation will also have meeting with USAID and World Bank/IMF. The Great Promise of Closer U.S.-Somaliland Ties: An Address by H.E. Muse Bihi Abdi | The Heritage Foundation WWW.HERITAGE.ORG

Among the delegation are two ministers that Somalia's fakenews websites reported were denied visa to the USA. In fact, not only are they going to America, they are going to America with their Somaliland Passports - a real kick to the groin for the Fake news pedlars.

The President as well as his entourage are travelling with their Somaliland Passports.

It looks like once again Somalia will miss another self-made deadline which is due on 15th of March. Puntland's leader muscled his way and got his puppets appointed to the so called Parliament. The other state leaders are still fighting to get their puppets appointed too. The International Community, like everyone else, just want this farce to come to an end. But there seems to be no end in sight specially for the Gedo region's selections. Buckle your seatbelts, the worse is yet to come.