Somalia: Somaliland's Red Sea Security Role Highlighted At Washington Conference

What the report says

Somaliland’s role in Red Sea security was highlighted at a Washington conference, where Somaliland’s U.S. representative Bashir Goth and Atlantic Council expert J. Peter Pham argued that the territory’s coastal policing and the strategic value of Berbera could make it a useful partner in protecting shipping lanes. The remarks were made during an ASMEA panel in Washington held Nov. 7-9, according to the conference organizers’ social media posts cited in the report.

The discussion focused on Somaliland’s location near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a chokepoint linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and on Berbera’s port and airport infrastructure. Pham described Berbera as a major deep-water port and emphasized the nearby runway’s ability to support rapid responses in the region. Goth said Somaliland’s efforts to secure its coastline help protect not only its own shores but also wider international maritime interests.

The article places these comments in the context of ongoing concern over disruptions to shipping linked to Houthi activity in the region. It also notes that Somaliland has operated with its own institutions and security forces since 1991 while continuing to seek broader international recognition. The report presents the conference as part of a wider debate over how Somaliland’s geography and facilities could factor into regional security cooperation.