DJIBOUTI — In a high-level maritime security conference hosted at the French military base in Djibouti, Somaliland’s Coast Guard Commander, Admiral Ahmed Hure Haariye, joined counterparts from Yemen and Djibouti for strategic discussions on the growing threats across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden corridor.
The meeting, organized by the Commander-in-Chief of the French Forces in East and Central Africa, reflects France’s renewed effort to engage credible regional actors in safeguarding one of the world’s most vital sea lanes.
Admiral Haariye delivered a detailed presentation outlining Somaliland’s expanding role in maritime security, emphasizing the country’s vigilance against terrorism, piracy, and illegal fishing — challenges that directly impact global shipping routes and local economies alike.
“Somaliland’s security model is built on discipline, deterrence, and cooperation,” Admiral Haariye reportedly told attendees, noting that his forces routinely monitor and interdict suspicious activities along Somaliland’s coastlines and territorial waters.
According to diplomatic sources who spoke to WARYATV, France views Somaliland as a “stabilizing force in a volatile maritime zone,” particularly as Red Sea tensions escalate due to Houthi attacks and Iranian proxy movements in the region.
The Commander of the Yemeni Coast Guard, Khalid Ahmed Mohamed, and his Djiboutian counterpart, Waays Omar Boqore, echoed similar concerns, calling for joint patrol frameworks and intelligence coordination among Red Sea nations.
Lieutenant General Sebastien, the French base commander, reaffirmed France’s commitment to supporting coast guards in the region.
“We stand shoulder to shoulder with all maritime forces protecting the Red Sea,” he said, underscoring France’s intent to counter smuggling, piracy, and illicit activities at sea.
Later that evening, the French Commander hosted a closed-door working dinner with the heads of the Somaliland, Yemeni, and Djiboutian Coast Guards — joined by the Commander of the Djibouti Police Force and regional defense attachés.
The meeting concluded with an informal understanding to deepen cooperation in intelligence-sharing and joint maritime response operations.
Analysts view Somaliland’s participation as a quiet diplomatic milestone — one that enhances its international profile while reinforcing its reputation as a responsible and capable security partner.
Unlike Mogadishu, which has often clashed with foreign partners over sovereignty rhetoric, Hargeisa’s approach is pragmatic, professional, and rooted in regional security logic.
In the shifting geometry of Red Sea alliances — where Western, Gulf, and African interests collide — Somaliland’s presence in such forums signals that the world’s naval powers are taking its role seriously, even if formal recognition still lags behind reality.
