Massad Boulos, senior advisor to President Donald Trump on the Middle East and Africa, has indicated that U.S. policy toward Somaliland remains open to future evolution, while stressing that the current “one Somalia” approach has not changed and expressing deep concern over the worsening security situation in Somalia.
In recent remarks to Sky News Arabia, Boulos stated:“Well, Somaliland isn’t a new issue—this has been pending for decades. They are free to have these relationships and partnerships. U.S. policy has not changed now, but things can evolve in the future. I can’t speculate, but we are continually looking into these matters and assessing them. As of now, our policy has not changed.”
He added: “Our policy toward Somaliland is one that could evolve over time. But right now, there has been no change in our ‘one Somalia’ policy.”
Boulos voiced serious alarm about Somalia’s security trajectory, saying: “What we are seeing is extremely concerning—Al-Shabaab continues to gain ground on a regular basis, and now ISIS-Somalia is also making territorial advances. This is seriously exacerbating instability across the Horn of Africa.”
The comments have drawn attention in Washington policy and security circles, highlighting persistent doubts about the effectiveness of U.S.-backed counterterrorism operations. Despite repeated efforts, the campaign against ISIS-Somalia has not succeeded in eliminating key high-value leadership targets.
Confidence among Somalia’s international partners appears to be eroding. On January 9, 2026, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi postponed a scheduled visit to Mogadishu, citing unacceptable security risks. Days earlier, the United States suspended portions of its aid to the Somali federal government following reports that a World Food Programme warehouse at Mogadishu port—containing U.S.-funded humanitarian supplies—was looted and demolished. Somali authorities have disputed the allegations, maintaining that port expansion work did not interfere with the aid stocks, which remain under WFP oversight.
The remarks coincide with ongoing U.S. airstrikes targeting Al-Shabaab and ISIS-Somalia positions and come amid broader regional discussions on strategic alignments in the Horn of Africa, including Israel’s recent recognition of Somaliland.
