Ted Cruz Urges U.S. to Separate Somaliland From Somalia in Travel Advisory, Drawing Praise From Hargeisa
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to issue a separate travel advisory and diplomatic security assessment for Somaliland, arguing that the territory’s stability and democratic record warrant different treatment from Somalia. Somaliland has welcomed the move as a significant endorsement of its longstanding case for greater international engagement.
HARGEISA (Somali Report) — U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to establish a separate U.S. travel advisory and diplomatic security assessment for Somaliland, arguing that the territory’s security situation and democratic record differ significantly from those of Somalia.
In a letter to Rubio, Cruz called on the State Department to review its longstanding policy of applying the same Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory to both Somalia and Somaliland.
The Republican senator, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa, said the current advisory no longer reflects realities on the ground.
“Somaliland has functioned as a stable, self-governing, democratic nation for nearly three decades,” Cruz wrote. He noted that Somaliland has conducted multiple competitive elections and peaceful transfers of power while maintaining relative stability in a region affected by conflict.
Cruz argued that the existing travel advisory discourages American investment, complicates official U.S. government travel and diplomatic engagement, and treats Somaliland as though it faces the same security challenges as southern and central Somalia.
“The State Department’s current policy punishes success and rewards failure,” he wrote, adding that Americans deserve travel guidance based on actual security conditions rather than a single nationwide assessment.
The senator also requested that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security conduct a new region-specific security assessment for Somaliland, noting that official U.S. security evaluations date back to the early 1990s.
He pointed to the State Department’s country-specific approach in Mexico, where travel advisories differ by state, arguing that a similar model could be applied to Somaliland.
Somaliland welcomed the intervention.
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The Somaliland Mission to the United States thanked Cruz in a statement posted on X, saying the senator’s letter recognizes Somaliland’s record of peace and democratic governance.
“We thank Senator Ted Cruz… for his letter urging a separate U.S. Travel Advisory and Diplomatic Security assessment for Somaliland,” the mission said.
“For nearly three decades, Somaliland has been a beacon of stability and democracy in the Horn of Africa. It is time U.S. policy reflects that reality.”
The appeal comes as Somaliland intensifies efforts to expand international engagement while seeking formal recognition as an independent state.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 after the collapse of Somalia’s central government. Although it has built its own institutions, held repeated elections and maintained its own security forces, it remains internationally recognized as part of Somalia by the United States, the United Nations, the African Union and other international partners.
Cruz has been one of the most vocal supporters in the U.S. Congress for strengthening ties with Somaliland. Over the years, he has argued that Somaliland’s strategic location along the Gulf of Aden, its democratic institutions and its cooperation on regional security make it an increasingly important partner for the United States in the Horn of Africa.
The senator is also one of the strongest supporters of Israel in Congress. His latest intervention comes at a time of growing geopolitical interest in Somaliland following reports of expanding contacts between Somaliland and Israel, alongside increasing U.S. attention on security and strategic competition in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa. However, Cruz’s letter focuses specifically on travel guidance and diplomatic security assessments and does not address Somaliland’s international recognition or relations with Israel.
The U.S. State Department has not publicly responded to Cruz’s request. If adopted, the proposal would mark a significant shift in U.S. travel policy by distinguishing Somaliland’s security environment from that of the rest of Somalia, a move that Somaliland officials say could encourage greater diplomatic engagement, business investment and official travel to the territory.
About the Author
Khadar Abdi is the Somaliland Correspondent for Somali Report. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments, and regional affairs across Somaliland.