Somalia’s exclusive ports offer to America stirs up political storm
Somaliland leadership claimed surprise that Somali president offered US “exclusive control” over Berbera port and airbase, assets firmly under its control since 1991.
The decision by Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to offer exclusive use of ports to the US government may have been meant to get security guarantees. But it has elicited political wrangles that risk derailing domestic front against violent extremists.
Last week, President Mohamud wrote to his United States counterpart, Donald Trump, offering a port in Puntland state, and another in the breakaway region of Somaliland, to US exclusive use.
