Somalia ready to give US control of airbases, seaports?

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is reportedly ready to give the US exclusive control of strategic air bases and ports.

Reuters reported on March 28 that Somali President Mohamud sent a letter to President Trump to present the above issue.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud

In a letter dated March 16 seen by Reuters and authenticated by a regional diplomat familiar with the matter, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud mentioned assets including air bases in Balidogle and Berbera as well as the ports of Berbera and Bosaso.

The offer could give the United States a stronger military presence in the Horn of Africa, aimed at countering the threat from Islamist militants in Somalia and across the region.

“These strategically located assets provide an opportunity to enhance US engagement in the region, ensure uninterrupted military and logistical access, and deter external competitors from establishing a presence in this critical corridor,” the letter said.

However, the Berbera region lies within the breakaway region of Somaliland, meaning the proposal to build a port and airbase there could lead to conflict between the parties involved.

"What cooperation? The US has abandoned Somalia. The US is now ready to work with Somaliland, which has shown the world that it is a peaceful, stable and democratic region," Somaliland's foreign minister Abdirahman Dahir Aden told Reuters.

"The US is not stupid. They know who they are dealing with when it comes to the port of Berbera," Mr. Aden warned.

Somali officials have not commented on the new information. However, Somalia has long opposed any move to recognize Somaliland as an independent country. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not been recognized by any country in the United Nations.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/somalia-san-sang-trao-cho-my-quyen-kiem-soat-can-cu-khong-quan-cang-bien-185250329090916393.htm