Somaliland asks Kenya to recognise its sovereignty
Days after Kenya made headlines for recognising Kosovo as an independent state, Somaliland is knocking on President William Ruto’s door for a similar action.
In a statement shared by the Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday, March 28, 2025, the entity implored Kenya to recognise its sovereignty, a move which they argued would reaffirm Kenya’s leadership in regional diplomacy and multilateral engagement.
Somaliland further claimed that the decision to recognise the entity as a sovereign state would strengthen peace in the Horn of Africa.
“In this spirit, the Republic of Somaliland encourages the Government of Kenya to adopt a similarly principled and historic decision by formally recognizing Somaliland’s sovereignty. Such a step would not only reaffirm Kenya’s leadership in regional diplomacy and multilateral engagement but also serve to strengthen bilateral relations and contribute to lasting peace, stability, and cooperation across the Horn of Africa,” the statement from the Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs read in part.
Commends Kenya for recognising Kosovo
While pushing to be recognised as a sovereign state, Somaliland lauded Kenya for making the unprecedented step of acknowledging that Kosovo was an independent state against Serbia’s wish, sparking a diplomatic tiff.
The entity described the decision as a testament to its unwavering commitment to the principles of international law, the right to self-determination, and the promotion of international peace and stability.
“The Government of the Republic of Somaliland conveys its sincere congratulations to the Government and people of the Republic of Kosovo on the occasion of Kenya’s official recognition of Kosovo’s independence. This bold and forward-looking decision by the Republic of Kenya is a testament to its unwavering commitment to the principles of international law, the right to self-determination, and the promotion of international peace and stability.
“The Republic of Somaliland, having upheld peace, democratic governance, and effective state institutions for over three decades, shares with Kosovo a parallel trajectory grounded in the legitimate expression of sovereign will and the fulfilment of the established criteria for statehood under international law. Somaliland notes with appreciation the legal precedent set by the International Court of Justice regarding Kosovo’s declaration of independence, and affirms the relevance of this precedent in the context of Somaliland’s enduring pursuit of international recognition,” the statement indicated.
Somaliland
The entity has been a self-governing region of Somalia for more than three decades, but its claim of independence is not recognized by Mogadishu or any foreign government.
Despite not being formally recognised, Somaliland has continued to remain stable the rest of Somalia, which in recent days has been hit by a wave of terror attacks.
Somaliland broke ties with Somalia’s government in Mogadishu after declaring independence in 1991. It has held several elections since 2003. The United States, France, the United Kingdom, and the European Union (EU) sent delegations to observe Somaliland’s 201.
Despite all the efforts, the country is struggling to gain its status and officially become a sovereign state.
By the time of this publication, Kenya had not responded to Somaliland’s request.
