India urged to engage Somaliland amid Red Sea instability

Recent geopolitical shifts in the Red Sea have highlighted the strategic importance of the Horn of Africa. The sinking of the Indian-flagged vessel MSV Faize Noore Oliya on August 3, 2026, following an attack near Hodeidah, Yemen, underscored the vulnerability of commercial shipping near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Analysts suggest that India should increase its engagement with Somaliland, a region that functions with near-independence despite being part of Somalia. Somaliland’s location along the Gulf of Aden offers significant strategic advantages for securing critical waterways. The region has historical ties to India, dating back to eras of monsoon-based trade and British colonial administration, which included Indian merchants and the use of the Indian rupee in Berbera.