General Michael Langley, commander of United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), arrived in Ethiopia’s capital on Friday for talks with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, just days after a highly publicized visit to the self-declared republic of Somaliland.
The meeting in Addis Ababa reportedly centred on bilateral and regional issues, with a particular focus on security cooperation.
Though details of the discussion remain undisclosed, the timing and context have fueled speculation over Washington’s growing interest in the Horn of Africa — especially amid shifting geopolitical dynamics involving Somalia, Ethiopia, and the breakaway Somaliland region.
Langley’s visit to Ethiopia followed his stop in Hargeisa, where he held discussions with Somaliland’s newly elected president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro, and other senior officials.
The talks in Somaliland revolved around joint security goals, maritime strategy, and broader defense collaboration.
Langley also toured the port city of Berbera, an area of strategic interest due to its potential for regional naval operations.
The visit came just a week after US Congressman Scott Perry reintroduced a bill in Congress advocating formal recognition of Somaliland as an independent state — a move staunchly opposed by the internationally recognised government in Mogadishu.
“For more than three decades, Somaliland demonstrated the kind of governance, stability, and cooperation that America should support,” said Perry.
“Foreign adversaries are on the march in Africa and around the globe, and it’s in our national interest to strengthen relationships with reliable partners who share our values and contribute to our security – whenever and wherever possible.”
Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has remained unrecognised despite its functional democratic institutions and relative stability.
Its most recent presidential election in 2024 saw Irro succeed former president Muse Bihi in a peaceful transfer of power, further cementing its claim as a democratic outlier in the volatile region.
In January 2024, Somaliland signed a controversial memorandum of understanding with Ethiopia that proposed granting Addis Ababa port access and a naval base in exchange for diplomatic recognition.
The deal drew fierce backlash from Mogadishu, nearly igniting a regional crisis that was later defused through Turkish-mediated peace talks.
While it remains unclear how General Langley’s Somaliland visit or the proposed US recognition bill will affect the fragile rapprochement between Ethiopia and Somalia, the visit underscores Washington’s strategic recalibration in a region increasingly contested by global powers.
As of yet, no official statements have been released regarding the specifics of Langley’s discussions with Prime Minister Abiy.
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