Somaliland’s Diplomatic Momentum Stumbling Dangerously under the Current Foreign Minister
For nearly two decades, I have watched Somaliland with admiration. As a former senior Africa analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency, I have studied fragile states, insurgencies, and democratic experiments across the continent.
Among them all, Somaliland stood apart: a self-made miracle of peace, governance, and democratic endurance in the chaos of the Horn of Africa.
It was for this reason that many of us in Washington quietly but firmly supported Somaliland case for recognition — even when it was politically inconvenient.
Somaliland had earned it.
Which is why it is so heartbreaking, now, to see Somaliland diplomatic momentum — so painstakingly built — stumble dangerously under the stewardship of its current Foreign Minister, Abdirahman Adam.
A Diplomatic Opportunity Squandered
The recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ethiopia should have been a masterstroke — a gateway to global recognition and historic strategic partnerships.
Instead, it has devolved into confusion, accusations, and bitter division, fueled by Minister Adam’s opaque handling and failure to secure public, legislative, and regional support before signing.
Rather than galvanizing Somaliland case, the MoU has exposed how dangerously unprofessional Somaliland diplomacy has become at a critical moment.
Empty Talking Points, No Strategy
Minister Adam’s recent interview with The Daily Euro Times laid bare the depth of the problem.
On key questions of maritime security, relations with Taiwan, and negotiations with the United States, Minister Adam offered buzzwords, vague assurances, and tired slogans — but no coherent diplomatic roadmap.
Instead of offering a clear defense strategy against China’s active political interference through SSC-Khatumo proxies, he issued bland platitudes about “not trading sovereignty for investment,” without acknowledging how China is aggressively contesting Somaliland maritime future.
Instead of articulating a compelling case for why America should formally recognize Somaliland — at a moment when U.S. policymakers are desperate for reliable African partners — he offered recycled rhetoric about “peaceful development,” absent any real policy innovation.
Instead of seizing a golden opportunity to align Somaliland destiny with the West, Minister Adam appeared trapped in self-congratulation and political nostalgia.
Diplomacy demands precision, urgency, and mastery. Not slogans.
Somaliland Deserves Better Leadership
Somaliland people deserve better. The region’s allies in Washington, London, and Brussels — who have fought quietly for years to give Somaliland a fair hearing — deserve better.
If Somaliland is serious about its future, it must recognize that diplomatic failure at this stage is not just costly. It could be fatal.
President Abdirahman Irro should consider urgently repositioning Minister Adam to a post better suited to his skills, and entrust the Foreign Ministry to seasoned professionals who understand that recognition is not won with hashtags or hashtags — it is won with discipline, intelligence, and credibility.
Somaliland is at the crossroads of history. It can ascend — or it can drift back into forgotten limbo. The choice will not be made by slogans. It will be made by leadership.
About the Author::
Jonathan R. Ellis is a former Senior Africa Analyst with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), with over 25 years of experience in African geopolitics, conflict resolution, and state-building advisory.