U.S. rules out Military base in Somaliland, reaffirms Support for Somalia’s territorial integrity

The United States has ruled out plans to establish a military base in Somaliland and reaffirmed its support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to comments attributed to U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) Commander General Dagvin Anderson.

In an interview shared by the U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu, General Anderson reportedly addressed growing speculation over Washington’s strategic interests in the Horn of Africa, including questions surrounding Somaliland and the possibility of a permanent U.S. military presence in the region.

“There are no plans to build a base in Somaliland,” Anderson said, according to the interview.

The AFRICOM commander also reiterated that U.S. policy regarding Somaliland’s status remains unchanged, emphasizing Washington’s continued recognition of the Federal Republic of Somalia as a single sovereign state.

The remarks come amid heightened regional and international attention on Somaliland, particularly following discussions about strategic access to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and speculation over possible foreign military facilities in the region.

Anderson’s comments also underscore the longstanding U.S. position in support of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Washington has maintained security cooperation with the Somali government, including support for counterterrorism operations and assistance to Somali security forces, particularly the Danab special operations forces.

The AFRICOM commander has previously stressed the importance of Somalia’s political stability and its ability to strengthen its own security institutions. The United States has continued to support Somali-led efforts against Al-Shabaab and other militant groups as part of its broader security partnership with the Federal Government of Somalia.

The latest comments are likely to be welcomed by Somalia’s federal government, which has consistently opposed any move toward international recognition of Somaliland as an independent state and has called for the preservation of the country’s territorial integrity.

The statement also comes as the Horn of Africa remains a strategically important region for international security, with growing concerns over terrorism, maritime security and instability affecting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Mustaqbal