Behind a Veneer of Democracy

What do Ted Cruz, Chinese drones, and Israeli military proxies all have in common? Somaliland. The small breakaway state in northern Somalia has recently been the catalyst for a superpower competition, as Israel became the first country to officially recognize the territory as an independent state. In the United States, government officials such as Ted […]

Will Somaliland Gain Recognition?

Tensions are surging between Ethiopia and Somalia following what the Somali government views as a severe breach of its sovereignty. The conflict stems from Ethiopia signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Somali breakaway region of Somaliland. As part of the deal, Ethiopia will gain military and commercial access to the Red Sea through […]

A Failed State No More: Somalia’s Waning War

Sleek Boeing 737-800s operated by Turkish Airlines fly into Mogadishu’s gleaming new international airport as patients flock to the recently refurbished Erdoan hospital, the best-equipped medical center in East Africa. Al-Shabaab, the Al-Qaeda affiliate that has terrorized Somalia for eight years, is in tatters and on the run from a legitimate federal government that is […]