India’s nexus with the Republic of Somaliland

As Somaliland anchors through regional tensions in the Horn of Africa, it also remains steadfast in bringing recognition to its sovereignty by offering the world access to Berbera Port. As it gains more significance, the burgeoning yet unofficial ties between India and Somaliland offer a fascinating case study in the field of international relations. The historical nexus between India and the Horn of Africa, particularly Somaliland, traces back to colonial rule when maritime routes teemed with traders and indentured labourers. The Indian diaspora, pivotal in shaping the economic landscapes of the regions they settled in, also left indelible marks on the Somaliland.

The legacy of these interactions is steeped in the ancient commerce that thrived between the Indian subcontinent and the Horn of Africa. After the Roman conquest of the Nabataean Empire and the establishment of a Roman naval presence at Aden to curb piracy, Arab and East African merchants cooperated with the Romans to bar Indian ships from trading in the free port cities of the Arabian peninsula. This was done to protect the interests of Somaliland and Arab merchants in the lucrative commerce between the Gulf of Aden and Mediterranean Seas. 

However, Indian merchants continued to trade in the port cities of the Horn of Africa, which was free from Roman interference. For centuries, Indian merchants brought large quantities of cinnamon to the region from Ceylon and the Spice Islands. The source of the spices, long believed by the Romans and Greeks to have been the Horn of Africa, was the best-kept secret of Arab and Somaliland merchants. This collaboration inflated the price of Indian and Chinese cinnamon in North Africa, the Near East, and Europe, and made the spice trade profitable, especially for the East African merchants through whose hands large quantities were shipped across sea and land routes.

Post-independence, the legacy of these early interactions evolved into informal yet significant economic ties. Despite the lack of formal recognition, Indian goods—ranging from textiles to pharmaceuticals—find their way into Somaliland markets, indicating robust trade undercurrents. These exchanges underscore a potential ripe for expansion, with Indian investments slowly permeating sectors like telecommunications and agriculture in Somaliland. Somaliland’s quest for international recognition remains a pivotal aspect of its foreign policy. Despite having established a functioning democratic state since its declaration of independence from Somalia in 1991, it remains unrecognized officially on the global stage. 

This pursuit is not just about political legitimacy but also about unlocking international trade and investment opportunities that recognition could facilitate.

The Indian diaspora’s role in Somaliland extends beyond economic contributions to embodying a bridge between the two regions. Their presence in various sectors reinforces cultural and social ties, providing a foundation for soft diplomacy. This diaspora serves as a testament to the longstanding people-to-people contact that could be harnessed to strengthen bilateral relations. 

The strategic importance of Berbera Port has been increasingly recognized on the international stage, particularly as geopolitical dynamics shift in the Horn of Africa. Positioned on the Gulf of Aden, this port serves as a critical node in the maritime security landscape, influencing trade routes that link the Indian Ocean with the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean. India’s involvement in Berbera could serve as a counterbalance to Chinese maritime ambitions, ensuring a stable and secure environment for international shipping and trade.

India’s support for Somaliland could mirror its historical decision to recognize Bangladesh, driven by strategic and humanitarian imperatives. Today, recognizing Somaliland could help India secure a reliable partner in a strategic region filled with economic opportunities. Such a move would not only enhance India’s influence in the Horn of Africa but also align with its broader strategic goals to counterbalance Chinese and Pakistani interests in the region. The future of India-Somaliland relations, should formal recognition come to pass, holds considerable promise. The potential for establishing an Indian naval base at Berbera offers strategic leverage, securing critical sea lines of communication and enhancing maritime security. Beyond security, this partnership could spearhead regional development, with India playing a pivotal role in infrastructure, technology, and energy projects in Somaliland. Such engagements would not only cement India’s role as a key player in African geopolitics but also promote mutual prosperity.

The relationship between India and Somaliland, rooted in a shared colonial history and evolving through contemporary economic and strategic interactions, stands at a threshold. India, by supporting the cause of Somaliland’s recognition, has the opportunity to assert its role as a pivotal player in global geopolitics while opening the doors to regional stability and prosperity for the latter. 

In supporting Somaliland, India would not only rectify historical oversights but also strategically position itself as a leader in a region poised at the crossroads of significant geopolitical shifts. This deep historical and potentially strategic alignment between India and Somaliland, illustrated by centuries of maritime commerce and modern economic ties, frames a narrative of interdependence that could reshape the geopolitical landscape of the Indian Ocean and beyond.