British Fintech Founder Urges Trump to Recognize Somaliland

By: Mohamed Duale

Hargeisa August 16– Ismail Ahmed, a Somaliland-born British fintech executive and founder of WorldRemit, has called on U.S. President Donald Trump to recognize Somaliland’s independence, arguing that decades of American policy in Somalia have wasted billions of dollars while ignoring a stable, democratic alternative.

In an open letter addressed to Trump and shared with media, Ahmed described recognition of Somaliland as “a cost-free, high-return deal for America” that would secure Washington exclusive access to the strategic Port of Berbera and its adjacent airfield.

“For the cost-free act of recognizing our nation, the United States would gain a loyal partner and prime strategic real estate along the Red Sea — no costly wars, no nation-building required,” Ahmed wrote.

He contrasted Somaliland’s record of stability with Somalia’s ongoing turmoil despite massive international support. “The United States and others have invested over $50 billion there, yet Al-Shabaab terrorists still control large swaths of territory — and even tax citizens more effectively than the Somali government,” he said, calling Somalia policy a “bad deal” and a “three-decade strategic failure.”

Ahmed, who exposed corruption in Somalia’s aid programs while working for the United Nations before founding the London-based money transfer giant WorldRemit (now Zepz), said Somaliland had achieved peace, democracy, and economic progress without foreign assistance.

“Without U.S. assistance, Somaliland has built a functioning state that meets every criterion of nationhood. Recognizing this proven success would replace a three-decade strategic failure with a clear American win at virtually no cost,” he wrote.

He urged Trump to frame recognition as a historic act comparable to Theodore Roosevelt’s backing of Panama in 1903, which paved the way for the Panama Canal. “This is your Panama Canal moment. Somalia is today’s Colombia, claiming sovereignty over a region it neither controls nor can govern. Somaliland is the Panama of this story — a willing partner ready to strike a historic deal,” Ahmed argued.

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Recognition, he added, would also bolster U.S. efforts to counter China’s growing influence in Africa. “Recognizing Somaliland would be a strategic masterstroke in this contest: it blocks China’s regional designs and rolls back their gains. Berbera is the 21st-century equivalent of the Canal Zone, positioned to anchor U.S. power along one of the world’s most critical waterways,” he said.

Ahmed emphasized that Somaliland is already aligned with U.S. allies, noting the territory’s decision to welcome a Taiwanese representative office in Hargeisa despite Chinese threats.

He closed by appealing directly to Trump’s legacy. “The Horn of Africa is ready for bold American leadership and so is your place in history. History is calling  and it’s offering you a win that costs nothing and delivers everything,” Ahmed wrote.

Somaliland gained full independence on 26 June 1960 and was recognized by more than 30 countries, including the United States, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, Israel, Libya, and the Soviet Union. but was shortly annexed and occupied by Somalia until 1991. Under Somalia’s occupation, a large scale genocide against ethnic Isaaqs — the country largest ethnic group was carried out by the communist regime of Siyaad Barre.

Somalilanders argue that recognition would restore their nation’s rightful place in the international community, reward three decades of democratic governance and stability, and strengthen a reliable partner in the Horn of Africa.

SOURCE:HORNDIPLOMAT