Somaliland has expressed willingness to grant the United States access to its mineral resources and allow the establishment of military bases, as the self-declared republic intensifies efforts to secure international recognition.
Khadar Hussein Abdi, minister of the presidency in Somaliland, disclosed the proposal in an interview with AFP on Saturday, stating that the territory is open to exclusive resource agreements with Washington.
“We are willing to give exclusive access to our minerals to the United States. Also, we are open to offering military bases to the United States,” Abdi said, adding that authorities believe an agreement could be reached.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but remains internationally unrecognised. The federal government in Mogadishu continues to regard the territory as part of Somalia, despite Somaliland operating its own government, currency, security forces and passport system for more than three decades.
The push for foreign partnerships follows recent diplomatic developments, including recognition by Israel in December, making it the only country to formally acknowledge Somaliland’s independence.
Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi has also suggested granting Israel preferential access to mineral resources. Abdi noted that the possibility of allowing Israel to establish a military presence in the territory cannot be ruled out.
Strategically located along the Gulf of Aden, Somaliland sits opposite Yemen, where Houthi rebels have launched attacks on Israeli-linked assets amid regional tensions. Officials say the territory holds deposits of lithium, coltan and other valuable minerals, though independent assessments remain limited.
Analysts say Somaliland’s overtures reflect a broader strategy to leverage its strategic location and natural resources to gain diplomatic recognition and strengthen security partnerships.
Somalia’s federal authorities have not officially responded to the latest proposal.
