Month: February 2023

Antony Blinken Avoiding China’s Sparked African Proxy War in Somaliland

Antony Blinken Avoiding China's Sparked African Proxy War in Somaliland

Fighting continues in Somaliland’s Sool district. Americans may yawn and dismiss the fighting that began in late December as just another conflict in a dusty African corner. Such casual dismissal of Africa is not only wrong strategically (and a bit racist), but it also misreads the importance of the escalating fight. Continue reading “Antony Blinken Avoiding China’s Sparked African Proxy War in Somaliland”

Horn Region & Beyond on Fire for Delaying Somaliland’s Recognition

Horn Region & Beyond on Fire for Delaying Somaliland's Recognition

Somaliland is a victim of its own success in promoting democracy and peace in the region and establishing ties with Taiwan and the United States.
Somaliland is a victim of its own success in maintaining peace in the region by providing free border security for neighboring countries, offering protection for ships traveling through its sea, and not allowing piracy and terrorist organizations to establish bases in Somaliland. Continue reading “Horn Region & Beyond on Fire for Delaying Somaliland’s Recognition”

US Navy Seals Trainees Aiding Al-Shabab in the Eastern Somaliland Conflict

US Navy Seals Trainees Aiding Al-Shabab in the Eastern Somaliland Conflict

The uprising that began in Las Anod in response to recent extrajudicial deaths and later expanded into a larger movement for locals’ concerns about the Somaliland government’s executive branch has exposed how the US policy of “One Somalia” is out of touch with local reality as well as the covert relationship and cooperation between the ragtag military of South Somalia and the terrorist organization Al-Shabaab. Continue reading “US Navy Seals Trainees Aiding Al-Shabab in the Eastern Somaliland Conflict”

Meet Somaliland SAG Advisor – Robert Marro

Meet Somaliland SAG Advisor - Robert Marro

His advocacy firm and Somaliland Strategic Advisory Group -SAG collaborate to make the opportunities in Somaliland known to American businesses and investors.

Robert Marro is a former senior United States Commercial Service Diplomat who had served in countries in Asia, Europe and Canada, and was later Director of all U.S. Government commercial activities in the Middle East, South Asia and Africa.

During this career Marro helped hundreds of American companies find partners and counterparts in his countries of assignment, and later throughout the Middle East, South Asia and Africa as Regional Director there. He worked with those American firms, and with local government agencies, multinational and local corporations and private entrepreneurs, to identify new export and investment opportunities, and to guide them to successful business.

Recognized as a uniquely innovative corporate strategist and manager, Marro was the youngest officer ever selected for Senior Foreign Service, and assigned to some of the most dynamic markets for American exports and investment worldwide. He won numerous awards, including two Commerce Silver Medals, Meritorious Honor awards and recognition for innovative programs on economic development, creative business missions, and successful advocacy for American companies facing thorny obstacles and discriminatory policies by local governments and corporate competition.

On leaving government, Marro became an expert strategic consultant with unique skills with private corporate advocacy, managing many key projects worldwide as President of boutique consultancy TM Gemini Communications. He has helped companies win contracts, secure finance, advocated to successfully overcome artificial barriers and won contracts for clients for providing pioneering projects in Iraq, KSA, Jordan, Egypt, South Africa, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and more.

Robert Marro (aka Bob Marro) currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Bent Tree Advocacy – Public Relations and Communications Firm

How Somaliland Navigated Democracy, Development, & State-building without Recognition

How Somaliland Navigated Democracy, Development, & State-building without Recognition

The Republic of Somaliland is a de facto sovereign state in the Horn of Africa. Declaring independence from Somalia in 1991, Somaliland is a self-governing country, with democratic elections and a distinct history, but it’s still considered part of Somalia by the international community. Continue reading “How Somaliland Navigated Democracy, Development, & State-building without Recognition”