Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, has rejected an attempt by the central government to give the US control of a port and airbase in Berbera. The region, which declared independence in 1991 as Somalia descended into civil war, claims the facilities are not Mogadishu’s to give away.

The city of Berbera lies on the strategic Gulf of Aden, on the northern coast of Somaliland. In a letter to US President Donald Trump, Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud offered ports and airbases within Somalia, stating they would strengthen US security operations. Somaliland’s Foreign Affairs Minister Abdirahman Dahir Aden dismissed the move as “desperate.”

Somaliland has recently expanded its port in Berbera, which is run by DP World from the United Arab Emirates, a key US ally. The minister stated, “The USA is not stupid. They know who they need to deal with when it comes to Berbera port.”

The US has played a crucial role in helping Somalia fight Islamist militants by providing intelligence and air strikes. Al-Shabab, which controls territory in southern and central Somalia, is regarded as al-Qaeda’s most successful affiliate.

Observers believe Mogadishu fears Trump will reduce US support, as he did during his first term. The Somali government signed a $600,000 a year deal with a top Washington lobbying firm for advice on US-Somalia relations.

The letter explains how exclusive control of the offered airbases and ports could help the US counter the influence of other international players in the Horn of Africa, likely referring to China and Russia. However, the offer of the port of Bosaso in Puntland, a semi-autonomous region in the

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8d4dzq87rpo