US President-elect Donald Trump may recognize the breakaway region of Somaliland as a state, a Western newspaper reported, citing former UK Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson.
Williamson said he had held talks with Trump's team on the official recognition of Somaliland, the report read on Tuesday. The former UK defense chief reportedly expressed confidence that Trump will take up this issue as early as January, once he officially takes office as president.
The situation in the Horn of Africa has recently escalated amid deterioration of relations between Ethiopia and Somalia when Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland on granting Ethiopia access to the Red Sea.
In April, Somalia's Puntland autonomous region refused to recognize the authority of the Somali federal government until the dispute over the constitutional amendments is resolved, the regional State House announced in a statement.
Puntland claimed that the constitution adopted in 2012 was changed without taking into account the views of all Somalis, including those in the region. Amendments to the first four chapters of the constitution give the president significantly more powers, introduce direct elections, and extend the term of the federal government, local media reported.