In Hargeisa, Somaliland, 21-year-old captain Hafsa Omer showcases her skills on the basketball court, draped in the tricolour flag of her homeland. She dribbles, lays up the ball off the backboard, and watches it clatter into the hoop, symbolizing the determination and resilience of Somaliland’s first all-girls basketball team.
“Somaliland’s Basketball Captain Dreams of National Representation Despite Political Status”
Despite governing itself and experiencing relative peace and stability since declaring independence in 1991, the breakaway territory of Somaliland has faced challenges in gaining international recognition from foreign governments. This lack of recognition poses a barrier to the aspirations of its athletes, including the all-girls basketball team, who dream of competing on the global stage.
Hafsa Omer and her two sisters, fellow players for Hargeisa Girls Basketball, are on a mission to elevate the profile of Somaliland in the sport. As members of the first all-girls team in the region, they aim to mobilize their substantial social media following of over 10,000 supporters to champion their cause and bring attention to Somaliland’s basketball talent.
Expressing their determination, Hafsa Omer emphasizes the role of social media in Somaliland’s quest for recognition. Through wearing flags, discussing their country, and promoting it via platforms like TikTok and Instagram, they aim to contribute to the global acknowledgment of Somaliland’s identity and aspirations.
Questions about Somaliland’s sovereignty came into sharp focus in January when local authorities said they would grant landlocked Ethiopia access to the Red Sea in return for recognition as an independent country, sparking a diplomatic row with Somalia’s federal government.
Somalia, which considers Somaliland part of its territory, rejected the deal allowing landlocked Ethiopia to lease 20km (12 miles) around the port of Berbera, with access to the Red Sea for 50 years for its navy and commercial tankers.
