By Jibril Qoobey
Editor-in-chief of Idil News
The Trump administration that represents the United States has come back to its tripartite policy in dealing with Somalia’s divided government.
This policy aligns with Somalia’s reality, which is divided into three parts, each with its own structure of constitution and institutional framework:
1. Somaliland
2. Puntland
3. Southern and Central Somalia
The appointment of Lie Gen. Dagvin Anderson as AFRICOM commander, the farewell to preceding commander Col. Ed Norris, and the welcoming of the new commander, Dagvin Anderson, for U.S. special operations in East Africa—carry on equally in Garowe, Hargeisa, and Mogadishu—are clear indicators of the return to this policy.
Anderson was among the officers who implemented the tripartite policy, with a particular focus on Puntland and Somaliland, which his return further shows the U.S. intention to reinforce this approach.
The U.S. aims to pursue two major plans in Berbera and Bosaso:
1. Berbera becoming the second U.S. Navy base in the Horn of Africa, after Djibouti.
2. Bosaso serving as a hub for the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) special operations.
The revival of this policy has been prompted by international frustration with the Somali Federal Government and the poor leadership of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, which has led to significant gains by the terrorist groups Al-Shabaab and ISIS.