File Photo/Somali Times
A new, carefully orchestrated and heavily funded disinformation campaign is taking hold in Washington. It claims that the US government is preparing to recognize Northern Somalia, known colony name in political circles as “Somaliland,” as an independent country.
Read: Somalia at risk of reimposition of UN arms embargo
Read: Somalia is the number 1 country for corruption
Read: Why is Somalia an unfortunate country
Read: Puntland says lifting of arms embargo on Somalia a major threat
This claim is false. The US government has not changed its policy. Its position remains the same Somalia is one country, with sovereignty and proper territorial boundaries. Yet, despite this, a growing number of articles, research reports, and media stories are attempting to replace that reality with misinformation and lies. The machine behind this is not from the people, but from foreign funding.
Read: Somalia corrupt president Hassan Sheikh failed in both domestic and international politics
At the heart of this campaign is Taiwan. Isolated from the international diplomatic arena and struggling to gain international recognition, Taiwan has turned to a vigorous campaign in Washington. The Taiwanese government is funding lobbying firms and media consultants to promote the idea that its cooperation with Northern Somalia is legitimate. These firms are using their influence in Washington to push a false narrative: that Northern Somalia is on the verge of international recognition, and that the United States is secretly supporting this.
Read: Somalia President Hassan Sheikh and his family become the richest in Africa
Read: Egypt pressures Somalia President Hassan Sheikh to cut ties with Ethiopia
This is not true. It runs counter to US foreign policy. It also undermines the Federal Government of Somalia, the only legitimate government recognized by the US in Somalia. But Taiwan’s interest is not Somalia, it is Taiwan. And it is exploiting Somalia’s internal conflicts to win diplomatic battles with China.
Read: Exclusive: Somalia airspace revenue collected by Hassan Sheikh and his family
Read: Turkey benefits under oil agreement with Somalia corrupt president
Read: Somalia corrupt president Hassan Sheikh planning to sell Nugal Valley Basin
Taiwan’s strategy is based on exploiting weak or transitional states. It uses economic aid, diplomatic visits, and targeted media campaigns to create the illusion of recognition and legitimacy. In the case of Somalia, it has found a willing ally in the political leadership of Northern Somalia, who also have their own interests in a separate country. But this alliance is not about democracy or human rights. It is a political drama and a game of foreign interests.
Read: Somalia president Hassan Sheikh richest man in Africa for corruption
Read: Somalia’s president Hassan Sheikh history of corruption 2012-2017
The Federal Government of Somalia has not sat idly by. On July 31, 2025, it successfully supported the creation of a new federal state in the northeast. This was a major victory that demonstrated the power of the federal system. It also debunked one of the biggest myths used by separatists: that the north is united under one administration. It is not. There is a North-West region, and there is a North-East region. There is no such thing as a unified “Somaliland.”
Read: Somalia President meets Ugandan dictator Yoweri Museveni for advice
Read: Somalia officials abuse diplomatic passports for immigration fraud and human trafficking
Read: Exclusive: No money in the Treasury account of Somalia
This fact is important. It shows that the northern regions have political and social diversity. It proves that the secessionist narrative is based on a myth. The creation of the North-Eastern State under the Federal Constitution makes it legally and politically impossible to claim that Northern Somalia is a single, independent political entity.
Read: Somalia’s corruption is widespread throughout the regime
Read: Somalia Hassan Sheikh’s government is facing a widespread financial crisis and the causes
So why is this false narrative gaining traction in Washington? The answer lies in the power of political lobbying. Taiwan is spending a lot of money on it. Its lobbying firms are writing opinion pieces, influencing the reports of policy research institutes, and pushing points to distort reports given to the U.S. government. They are using misleading maps, fake polling data, and distorted history. They are using media outlets, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and former diplomats to reinforce their message.
This is not a diplomatic effort from the people. It is a war of disinformation, designed to confuse politicians, divide Somalis, and create conflict between Somalia and its international partners.
Most worrying, however, is the silence of many who should be speaking out about the truth. Some Somali intellectuals and political figures are silent on this issue. Not because they support secession, but because they underestimate the power of modern propaganda. They are still operating from the wisdom of the 1990s, when politics were negotiated in face-to-face dialogue, not through information operations, media circles, and coordinated campaigns.
They fail to see that this campaign is part of a much larger geopolitical game; one involving embassies, international organizations, think tanks, and Western media. This is not limited to one side. It is a multi-million dollar operation that spans from Taipei to K Street.
What is at stake is not just a label. Every distorted headline weakens Somalia’s standing in the international system. Every misleading article fuels those who want Somalia to fail. Every false political change weakens the Federal Government’s power, and strengthens the hand of those who would exploit chaos and division.
Somalia must respond clearly and forcefully. This is not the time to display a partisan disagreement. This is the time to confront the lies head on. The Federal Government must pressure its allies to adhere to its declared policies. It must hold embassies accountable for allowing their staff to push unofficial agendas. It must demand transparency from research institutions and media outlets that publicize foreign-funded stories without verifying their facts.
More importantly, Somalis themselves must wake up to the reality of modern information warfare. It is not enough to simply label foreign propaganda and ignore it. It must be fought systematically. That means building media capacity, investing in strategic communications, and naming the companies and lobbyists responsible. It means telling Washington clearly that Somalia is not for sale.
Unity is not just a slogan; it is a principle of national security. Recognizing any breakaway region threatens the stability of the entire country and the region. It encourages new claims of secession. It emboldens those who are waging war. It hands over the keys to Somalia’s independence to foreign governments.
Taiwan has the right to fight for its existence, but it does not have the right to wage that fight on the back of Somalia’s unity. Those who are paid to distort the truth in Washington must be exposed. Somalia has one government, one flag, and one territory. No amount of lobbying can change that fact.