Washington (Somaliguardian) – Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi on Tuesday hailed a letter sent by the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee to the State Department that had called for an increased engagement with the self-proclaimed state on issues of mutual diplomatic, security and economic interests.
In a letter addressed to the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the committee said it was time the United States would explore further opportunities to partner with the breakaway region.
“We write to urge the Biden Administration to consider increasing and deepening engagement with Somaliland on issues of mutual diplomatic, economic, and security interests,” the US House of Foreign Affairs Committee wrote
“Somaliland’s geo-strategic location on the Gulf of Aden, consistent support for democracy, cooperation on countering terrorism, piracy, and other security threats in the region, relations with Taiwan, and growing economic potential warrants that the United States explore additional opportunities to partner with Somaliland.”
In comments on the letter, Somaliland President Muse Bihi extended his “deepest gratitude” to members of the committee “for their leadership in advancing U.S-Somaliland relations.”
Bihi departed on Saturday for his first visit to the United States, in what his Minister of Information Saleban Ali Kore said came following an invitation from the US government, though US ambassador to Somalia Larry Andre denied the claims and said the breakaway state’s president was in Washington “at his initiative”. read more
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