Hundreds of people rallied in Somaliland’s capital Hargeisa on Wednesday, waving US and Somaliland flags, celebrating US President Donald Trump calling it “a totally different country”.
“It feels as though Somaliland has already been recognised.
However, during a rally in Ohio on Monday US President Donald Trump said Somaliland was “a totally different country” from Somalia. Hargeisa welcomed the president’s remarks, posting on X on Tuesday that they “underscore Somaliland’s distinct identity and its separate political reality” and adding it remained “steadfast in its pursuit of international recognition”. “Donald Trump’s statement marks the beginning of US recognition for Somaliland,” said Ali Hashi, among those celebrating in Hargeisa’s Kheyriyadda Square. “We deserve recognition because we are distinct from Somalia in every respect,” she said. University student Mohamed Yasin, while not agreeing with everything Trump said at one point during his speech the president suggested changing the name from Somaliland still welcomed his comments. It is a cause for celebration and a major victory for us,” he said.
