WASHINGTON, D.C. – A prominent U.S. senator is urging the Trump administration’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio to update America’s travel guidance by treating Somaliland separately from Somalia, arguing that the two have vastly different security conditions.
Senator Ted Cruz, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, has formally asked the U.S. State Department to issue a dedicated travel advisory for Somaliland instead of including it under the current nationwide warning for Somalia.
The U.S. currently lists Somalia under a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory, the highest warning level issued by the State Department. The advisory cites threats including terrorism, kidnapping, violent crime, piracy, civil unrest, and other serious security risks. That warning also applies to Somaliland.
However, Cruz argues that Somaliland’s situation is significantly different.
In his letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the senator said Somaliland has maintained peace, democratic governance, and self-administration for decades. He noted that the region has held multiple competitive elections and peaceful transfers of power, distinguishing it from the instability affecting other parts of Somalia.
Cruz also described Somaliland as a dependable security and diplomatic partner for the United States, saying closer engagement would strengthen American interests across the Horn of Africa.
According to the senator, continuing to group Somaliland under the same travel advisory as Somalia provides an inaccurate picture for American travelers and businesses. He argued that U.S. citizens deserve travel guidance based on the actual conditions in each region rather than a single assessment covering the entire country.
The letter calls on the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Bureau to conduct a regional review and establish a separate travel advisory specifically for Somaliland.
If the proposal is adopted, it would not amount to formal U.S. recognition of Somaliland as an independent state. However, it would represent a significant policy shift by acknowledging Somaliland’s different security environment and could encourage greater travel, business investment, and diplomatic engagement with the region.
The U.S. State Department has not yet responded publicly to Senator Cruz’s request.