The US State Department has expressed concern over the delay of Somaliland’s presidential elections, initially scheduled for November 2022.
They urged Somaliland authorities to establish a clear timeline and complete the polls as soon as possible.
The US is prepared to restrict visa issuance to current or former Somali officials or individuals responsible for or complicit in undermining the democratic process in Somalia, including Somaliland, under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Somaliland, a self-proclaimed republic with no international recognition, is facing a crisis as the unionist movement for reunification with Somalia spreads across SSC, which is roughly a third of what Somaliland regards as its territory.
Protests calling for reunification began in Las Anod in December 2022 and led to a declaration in February 2023 that declared the presence of the Somaliland administration illegal. Somaliland has been shelling the city ever since, causing significant casualties and damage to infrastructure, including hospitals.
