Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Horn News Hub).
U.S. House Committee Advances Bill Recognizing Somaliland’s Strategic Importance
The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee has approved a sweeping State Department Reauthorization package that includes provisions highlighting Somaliland’s strategic role in the Horn of Africa. The bill (H.R. 5300), passed with bipartisan support, marks the first comprehensive reauthorization of the State Department in more than two decades and contains measures that could reshape U.S. engagement with the self-declared Republic of Somaliland.
A key section of the legislation directs the U.S. Secretary of State to assess the feasibility of establishing a separate U.S. travel advisory for Somaliland, distinct from Somalia, and to explore the possibility of opening an American office in Hargeisa within 180 days of the bill’s enactment. The measure also calls for recommendations to promote U.S. investment and economic cooperation with Somaliland, which has operated as a de facto independent state since 26 June 1960 from UK as a sovereign state of Somaliland but remains internationally unrecognized.
Somaliland officials welcomed the development, describing it as a “historic milestone” toward greater international acknowledgment of the region’s stability and democratic governance. Somaliland’s foreign minister Abdirahman Isak praised the committee’s decision, saying it opens the door for deeper economic ties and a stronger U.S.–Somaliland partnership. A statement from the Somaliland Mission in Washington similarly highlighted the potential for enhanced trade, investment, and diplomatic engagement.
The bill reflects growing calls in Washington for a more pragmatic approach to the Horn of Africa, with some U.S. lawmakers questioning the long-standing “One Somalia” policy. Senator Jim Risch and other supporters have argued that Somaliland’s relative stability and democratic track record stand in contrast to Somalia’s persistent security challenges.
Beyond Somaliland, the broader reauthorization package introduces a range of reforms aimed at streamlining the State Department, enhancing oversight of foreign assistance, and strengthening U.S. diplomatic tools in an increasingly competitive global environment. Provisions include new bureaus for strategic communications, sanctions policy, and commercial diplomacy, as well as measures to improve accountability in public diplomacy and foreign aid programs.
The legislation will next move to the House floor for a full vote before proceeding to the Senate. If enacted, it would require the State Department to present its findings and recommendations on Somaliland within six months, potentially setting the stage for a significant shift in U.S. policy toward the region.
