Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) of the House Select Committee on China and Co-Chairman Chris Smith (R-NJ) of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) has sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio to distinguish Somaliland from the Federal Republic of Somalia in its travel advisory report.
In the letter, the lawmakers find that distinguishing Somaliland would allow the U.S. to more effectively counter the CCP’s malign influence in the Horn of Africa and support greater international recognition of Taiwan.
“Strengthening cooperation with Somaliland is a productive step in advancing America’s security and diplomatic objectives in the Horn of Africa,” said Chairman Moolenaar. “From combatting piracy to hosting a Taiwanese Representative Office in its capital, Somaliland has shown its commitment to the United States as both a friend and security partner. Establishing a more official U.S. presence in Somaliland would give the United States an important foothold to monitor and counter Beijing’s ever-growing presence in the region that ultimately undermines the safety of Americans at home.”
“The Trump Administration and Secretary Rubio have already made significant strides in strengthening the U.S.-Somaliland relationship – the United States can continue to nurture this partnership with a separate and more accurate travel advisory, which accords with the stable situation on the ground,” said Co-Chair Smith.
The U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party has praised Somaliland for resisting Beijing’s influence in the Horn of Africa, noting that closer ties with the Horn of Africa nation could strengthen U.S. security and diplomatic objectives in the region.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the committee said:
“Somaliland has resisted Chinese influence that has penetrated the Horn of Africa, and is one of only two governments in Africa that recognizes Taiwan. Strengthening cooperation with Somaliland is a productive step in advancing America’s security and diplomatic objectives in the Horn of Africa and countering Beijing’s ever-growing presence in the region.”
China continues to back Somalia’s government diplomatically and economically, opposing any recognition of Somaliland’s independence. Despite Beijing’s repeated calls for Somaliland to sever ties with Taiwan, Somaliland has expanded its partnership with Taipei, establishing reciprocal representative offices in 2020.
Trump and U.S. Lawmakers Signal Stronger Support
During a press conference with the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia, U.S. President Donald Trump was asked about Washington’s approach to Somaliland. He replied: “We’re looking into that right now. Good question, actually, and another complex one, but we’re working on that right now — Somaliland.”
U.S. lawmakers have also urged stronger engagement. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) has encouraged Trump to consider recognition, while House Select Committee leaders John Moolenaar and Chris Smith have called on the State Department to “distinguish Somaliland” in its Africa policy.
At the same time, the two influential U.S. congressional committees on China want the State Department to differentiate Somaliland from Somalia in its travel guidance, a move they argue would strengthen American security, investment, and diplomacy in the Horn of Africa.
The duo called on Washington to publish a separate travel advisory for Somaliland. They described the step as “concrete and immediately actionable,” saying it would boost international perceptions of Somaliland’s stability, open the door to U.S. business opportunities, and reinforce American efforts to curb China’s growing regional influence.
Currently, the U.S. issues a blanket “Do Not Travel” advisory for Somalia, which Moolenaar and Smith argue unfairly penalizes Somaliland despite its consistent record of peace and democratic governance. Unlike Somalia, Somaliland has held successive competitive elections, built functioning security institutions, and maintained control over its land and waters, preventing terrorism, piracy, and smuggling.
“Strengthening cooperation with Somaliland is a productive step in advancing America’s security and diplomatic objectives in the region,” the lawmakers wrote, stressing that U.S. policy should reflect the “realities on the ground.”
The lawmakers also pointed out that the State Department already provides region-specific travel advisories for countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, and Cameroon. A similar approach for Somaliland, they argued, would encourage U.S. investment in its natural resources, including critical minerals like lithium and copper, while countering Beijing’s dominance in the strategic Red Sea corridor.
Moolenaar and Smith further warned of China’s expanding military and intelligence footprint in the Horn of Africa, particularly its base in Djibouti and its reported role in facilitating Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping. “It is crucial the United States strengthen relationships with stable, democratic partners in the region to push back against malign Chinese influence,” they emphasized.
The letter also highlighted Somaliland’s growing partnerships with democratic allies, notably Taiwan — through cooperation in health care, infrastructure, and maritime security — as well as Israel, by supporting the Abraham Accords. The lawmakers noted that the U.S. Development Finance Corporation has expressed willingness to partner with Taiwan in financing mineral projects in Somaliland, underscoring the territory’s strategic value.
“The Department should take this opportunity to demonstrate tangible support for Somaliland, whose democratic commitments and security cooperation align closely with U.S. interests,” the letter concluded.
Speaking with Breitbart News, Congressman Moolenaar underlined the practical impact of such a shift. “From combatting piracy to hosting a Taiwanese Representative Office in its capital, Somaliland has shown its commitment to the United States as both a friend and security partner,” he said. “Establishing a more official U.S. presence in Somaliland would give the United States an important foothold to monitor and counter Beijing’s ever-growing presence in the region that ultimately undermines the safety of Americans at home.”
For Moolenaar and Smith, the proposed travel advisory is an immediate, concrete step that would reshape international perception, spur commerce and investment, and send a strong signal of U.S. commitment to a democratic partner in a strategically vital part of the Horn of Africa.
Analysts emphasize Somaliland’s strategic location along the Gulf of Aden, bordering the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints. This position gives Somaliland outsized importance for controlling trade routes between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. U.S. engagement with Hargeisa could therefore secure a critical strategic foothold in the region, enhancing America’s security and influence in the Horn of Africa.
Since 1991, Somaliland has made remarkable strides in governance, stability, and development. These achievements have earned recognition from U.S. lawmakers, who view Hargeisa as a reliable and strategically valuable partner in a volatile region