Somaliland President to Visit US Seeking American Recognition

The President of Somaliland, Abdillahi Ali, is scheduled to arrive in Washington this week for his first visit to the United States in his official capacity. The visit follows a historic trip Ali made to Israel nearly three months ago, after Jerusalem recognized Somaliland's independence last year. According to sources familiar with the matter, the primary goal of the current visit is to leverage the momentum generated by Israel's recognition to persuade the United States to follow suit. Ali will also visit New York and meet with members of Congress and the Senate. "The hope is to also meet President Trump," a source involved in the visit stated. It is understood that Israel is aware of this visit and may even be attempting to assist its new partners from the Horn of Africa in their pursuit of American recognition, which would mark a significant turning point. However, this endeavor is challenging, as most regional countries, particularly Saudi Arabia and Turkey, stand with Somalia, which claims sovereignty over Somaliland and refuses to recognize its independence. The United Arab Emirates is an exception in the region.

Ali's visit comes amid regional tensions, with Saudi Arabia having recently requested the US to manage its war against the Houthis, a request that was denied.