Somaliland’s pioneering all-female basketball team aims for recognition

Hafsa Omer, a 21-year-old basketball captain from Somaliland, is not just dribbling a basketball on the court – she is dribbling with a purpose. Wrapped in the tricolour flag of her homeland, Omer and her two sisters are determined to put Somaliland on the map, despite the territory’s lack of international recognition.

Somaliland, a breakaway territory that declared independence in 1991, has been governing itself with relative peace and stability. However, it has struggled to gain recognition from foreign governments. Omer and her sisters, who play for the first all-girls team in Somaliland, Hargeisa Girls Basketball, are using their platform and social media following of over 10,000 to promote their country and push for recognition.

The issue of Somaliland’s sovereignty gained attention earlier this year when local authorities announced a deal with Ethiopia to grant the landlocked country access to the Red Sea in exchange for recognition. This move sparked a diplomatic row with Somalia, which considers Somaliland part of its territory.

Despite the lack of international recognition, Somaliland officials believe they have a strong case for independence. The territory has its own coast guard, police force, passports, currency, and functioning democratic institutions. Omer, whose family has a history of fighting for independence, sees her basketball team as a way to push for women’s rights and challenge conservative social attitudes in Somaliland.

Since founding Hargeisa Girls Basketball in 2018, Omer has seen the growth of other female teams in the region. These teams now compete in an all-girls league, breaking barriers and promoting gender equality through sports.

For Omer and her sister Fatima, basketball is more than just a game – it is a tool for visibility and empowerment. They want the world to see them and their country, and they are using every dribble, layup, and social media post to make that happen. As they continue to push for recognition and women’s rights in Somaliland, Omer and her sisters are proving that sports can be a powerful force for change.