HARGEISA — Somaliland has indicated its willingness to provide the United States with exclusive rights to significant mineral deposits and to host American military installations, a high-ranking official informed AFP, as the region intensifies its long-standing effort to achieve formal international acknowledgment.
These statements emerge during a period of heightened diplomatic engagement following Israel’s highly controversial acknowledgment of Somaliland’s independence in December. While the region proclaimed its independence in 1991, Mogadishu authorities firmly view Somaliland as an inseparable part of Somalia’s sovereign territory. Washington, for its part, recently reaffirmed its “One Somalia” policy despite the shifting regional dynamics.
Offers of Military Bases and Minerals
“We are prepared to grant exclusive access to our mineral resources to the United States. Additionally, we are willing to provide military bases to America,” stated Khadar Hussein Abdi, Somaliland’s Minister of the Presidency, during a weekend interview. “I am confident that we will reach an agreement with the United States.”
Over recent weeks, Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi “Irro” has similarly suggested the possibility of offering Israel preferential access to the area’s valuable resources. Minister Abdi further indicated that the administration could not rule out allowing Israel to establish a military presence within the region as well.
Geopolitical and Economic Stakes
Located strategically along the Gulf of Aden, opposite Yemen, Somaliland controls a maritime corridor of immense geopolitical significance. In recent months, Yemen’s Houthi movement has persistently conducted assaults on commercial shipping and targets associated with Israel, characterizing these actions as demonstrations of solidarity with Palestinians.
Economically, Somaliland officials highlight that the region contains substantial reserves of lithium, coltan, and other critical minerals currently in high global demand for technology and manufacturing. Nevertheless, thorough independent geological evaluations of these resources remain incomplete.
