That’s right, I’m going to tell you how to end the piracy that has been plaguing the Gulf of Aden lately. It’s easier than you may think. Recognize Somaliland in exchange for a base agreement.
The US Should Recognize Somaliland…
Somaliland makes up the northernmost part of the country, sitting right on the Gulf.
(On the map, Somaliland is the blue section, the rest of Somalia is the tan area, and the red markings represent pirate attacks in 2008.) Somaliland is a moderate-Islamic democracy. Somaliland was Britain’s Somali colony, until it received its independence in 1960. After being recognized by the U.S., Somaliland entered into a union with southern Somalia (a former Italian colony) to form the modern state of Somalia. Because it’s been previously recognized, recognizing it now would be similar to recognizing the states of the former Yugoslavia. Somaliland has roughly the same amount of land as England and Wales and a population similar to that of Uruguay, so it would be a substantial state. The official US position is that the AU should make that decision, but I can’t imagine it would take too much diplomacy to get them on board.
…In Exchange for a Base Agreement
Somaliland desperately wants recognition. If the US and its allies recognize Somaliland, it would be eligible for UN assistance, it could sign trade agreements, and, at the very least, would be able to convince prospective investors that it is legitimate and not like the rest of Somalia. I can’t imagine they would be so opposed to a US base (with the accompanying economic hustle and bustle) that they wouldn’t be willing to sign a SOFA in exchange for recognition. The US would gain land in a vital area (across the Gulf from the Arabian Peninsula) that would allow it to shorten its supply lines for the fight against piracy. I don’t know if there are any available deep water ports, but I’m sure land suitable for an airbase could be found.
Once More
Somaliland is a moderate Islamic democracy that the US could recognize without much controversy. They could get recognition, the US could get a strategically important parcel of land, and realists and liberals alike could rejoice.
UPDATE: I’ve written a follow-up to this post. Click here to read it.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m with you up until the SOFA part. Putting US forces in a predominantly muslim nation hasn’t won us many friends (Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Jordan all have active militant minorities that abhor our presence in those parts of the world, not to mention the catastrophe of our involvement with Pakistan). If Somaliland becomes a functioning democracy then they will find it in their best interest to prosecute pirates and they will have the necessary local resources and authority to do so.
Saudi Arabia has clearly been a terrible mistake, but recognition would bring enough good will to (hopefully) negate any resentment and I think that when combined with the econmic payoffs would earn us at least a generation in that country. I agree that either way recognition is past due. I think I’m going to talk about Somaliland recognition a bit more next week.
I don’t know about anchorage, but an airbase in the area would be - alright, could be - an immeasurable boon to anti-piracy and other maritime-security operations in the area. As time goes by, I’m becoming more convinced that even were the West making a concerted effort towards providing maritime security in the region - which is by no means a given - they would be desperately hampered by a shortage of airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets in the area, largely because there’s no good place to base them nearby…
I am not sure why we would want to locate another base so close to the one we already have in Djibouti.
Kenya is also proceeding down the right track I believe, since they have now agreed to proscecute and pirates that are apprehended.
Africom is working with many of the African countries, however, they have suspended activities with Somalia and several others for the time being.
Berbera is a deep sea port that can be utilized as a base. The Soviets had a base their, and the US too. As a Somalilander, I can assure you that 99% percent of the population will be happy with this arrangement.
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