Hargeisa – On Friday morning, Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro joined hundreds of worshippers in Hargeisa for Eid al-Fitr prayers, seizing the opportunity to advocate for economic restraint and renewed peace in regions recently impacted by clan clashes.
In his address following the prayers, Irro cautioned that ongoing conflicts in the Middle East are disrupting global trade and shipping routes, potentially affecting food and fuel supplies.
“A war is currently underway that has affected the entire world. We are aware that it is now difficult for ships to operate as they once did, and there are obstacles along the routes they used to navigate,” the president remarked.
He urged business owners to act responsibly by avoiding unjustified price hikes, emphasizing that a significant portion of the population relies on traders for essential goods.
“There is a need to demonstrate conscience and patriotism,” he stated, calling on merchants to safeguard their reserves and assist in shielding the public from external economic shocks.
The president also addressed security concerns in eastern Somaliland, delivering a message of reconciliation to the communities in Sool and Sanaag, where recent inter-clan conflicts have heightened tensions.
“I urge the communities in the Sool and Sanaag regions to maintain their peace and unity, welcome the peace envoys, and cooperate with the security forces,” he said.
Eid al-Fitr, which signifies the conclusion of the holy month of Ramadan, is one of the most significant religious celebrations throughout Somalia, including Somaliland, fostering communal prayer and reflection despite ongoing political and security challenges.
Washington, D.C. –Republic of Somaliland’s U.S. envoy, Ambassador Bashir Goth, has welcomed the introduction of the Somaliland Economic Access and Opportunity Act in Congress as a “historic moment” that advances shared economic and security interests between the United States and Somaliland.
Introduced on March 19, 2026, by Rep. John Rose (R-TN), with cosponsors Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-NC) and Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN), the bill—designated H.R. 7993—targets the persistent barriers that prevent Somaliland from fully integrating into U.S. and international financial systems.
Due to its lack of widespread international recognition following Israel’s recognition in late 2025, Somaliland remains largely excluded from global banking networks, including the SWIFT payment system. This isolation hampers consumer banking, trade, remittances, investment, and vital cooperation on counterterrorism and anti-money laundering (AML/CTF) efforts, directly impacting the lives of Somaliland’s 6.2 million citizens and constraining deeper ties with strategic partners like the U.S.
The legislation directs the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury to submit a comprehensive report to Congress within 180 days of enactment. The mandated analysis includes:
Legal and regulatory obstacles to financial access, with specific focus on systems like SWIFT
Somaliland’s compliance with international AML/CTF standards
Practical measures Somaliland can adopt to strengthen transparency
Recommendations for U.S. actions to enable responsible and safeguarded financial engagement
Amb. Goth emphasized the bill’s broader significance, noting that it explicitly recognizes Somaliland’s strategic location in the Horn of Africa. The legislation states that “enhanced financial access, conducted under appropriate compliance safeguards, would serve to strengthen U.S. policy objectives in the region.” This approach underscores how economic inclusion, rooted in transparency and mutual interest, can bolster security partnerships and regional stability.
The Somaliland U.S. Mission described the move as “meaningful progress,” thanking Rep. Rose and the cosponsors for championing financial inclusion that benefits both nations. While the bill does not grant formal diplomatic recognition, it represents a pragmatic, targeted effort to treat Somaliland as a distinct economic entity—potentially unlocking new avenues for trade, investment, and cooperation amid evolving dynamics in the Horn of Africa.
As the bill advances through Congress, it signals growing U.S. attention to Somaliland’s role in promoting stability and opportunity in a critical geopolitical region.
Mogadishu – Somalia’s federal government has firmly rejected allegations that Chinese fishing vessels are operating unlawfully in its territorial waters. Authorities assert that these ships possess valid licenses issued by the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy. The ministry emphasized that “all licensed vessels operate legally under official permits issued by the Federal Government of Somalia.” Additionally, it highlighted that Chinese companies have shown respect for Somalia’s sovereignty and its maritime governance framework.
This statement emerges in the context of renewed scrutiny regarding foreign fishing activities off the coast of Somalia. A recent report has accused Chinese vessels of engaging in illegal fishing practices, such as exceeding established catch limits and employing destructive techniques that jeopardize marine stocks, particularly yellowfin tuna. These actions are viewed as detrimental not only to Somalia’s sovereignty but also as violations of international maritime law, as stated by the ministry.
In a related development, the Somali government expressed gratitude for the recent release of a Chinese fishing vessel that had been detained by armed groups in the Puntland region. Officials extended their thanks to security agencies and other stakeholders involved in securing the vessel’s release and ensuring the safety of its crew. However, it remains uncertain whether a ransom payment was made in connection with the release.
The ministry mentioned that the circumstances surrounding this incident are still under investigation and has pledged to enhance oversight within Somalia’s exclusive economic zone. Proposed measures include tightening licensing procedures, improving maritime monitoring, and fostering increased cooperation with security agencies to combat piracy and other maritime crimes.
Somalia boasts one of the longest coastlines in Africa, and its fisheries sector is deemed vital for the nation’s economic recovery. Nevertheless, the country has been grappling with issues of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, particularly during times of weakened state control.
The potential risks associated with unchecked Chinese overfishing in Somalia’s waters are considerable. Overfishing can lead to significant depletion of vital fish stocks, disrupting the local ecosystem and threatening the livelihoods of Somali fishermen who depend on these resources. Moreover, such practices threaten to squander Somalia’s natural resources, eroding the foundation for sustainable development and economic stability. These concerns are intensified by allegations of shady deals between local authorities and foreign fishing enterprises, which could lead to exploitation and further jeopardize the future of Somalia’s marine resources.
In a statement made on Sunday, the Ministry reaffirmed that the vessels are operating in accordance with Somali law and international maritime regulations, characterizing the relationship with Chinese fishing companies as a part of a longstanding strategic partnership between Mogadishu and Beijing. This partnership, while potentially beneficial, necessitates vigilant oversight to ensure that it does not compromise Somalia’s resources or sovereignty in the long run.
Berbera – The commander of the Somaliland Coast Guard has urged holidaymakers traveling to coastal towns to follow official safety guidance, stating that only the Coast Guard has the legal authority to designate safe swimming areas.
Admiral Ahmed Hurre Haariye issued the warning on Saturday ahead of the peak holiday travel period to Berbera and other coastal towns, where thousands of people typically gather during Eid and other public holidays.
“Anyone who wants to know safe areas for swimming should consult the Coast Guard,” he said, emphasizing that maritime security falls solely under his agency’s mandate.
He cautioned against relying on guidance from other institutions, including non-governmental organizations or government bodies that are not legally tasked with ensuring coastal security.
“The law clearly defines who is responsible for maritime security,” he said, adding that the Coast Guard operates a 24-hour hotline for emergencies and assistance.
Each year, large numbers of visitors from Hargeisa, Borama, and Burco travel to Berbera’s beaches during the holidays. Overcrowding and unfamiliarity with local sea conditions have, in the past, led to drownings and other safety incidents.
The commander did not specify any particular threat but stressed the importance of cooperation with security personnel to prevent accidents.
The warning comes at a time of heightened attention on Somaliland’s coastline. Israel recently recognized Somaliland as a sovereign state and is reportedly exploring closer security ties with the self-declared republic, including assessing coastal sites west of Berbera for potential strategic cooperation.
The Republic of Somaliland has put a clear deal on the table for Washington. In February 2026, its minister of the presidency stated the territory is ready to grant the United States exclusive access to critical minerals—including rare earth elements, lithium, and others vital for technology and defense—plus rights to establish military bases at the strategic port of Berbera.
This comes as Somaliland presses hard for formal international recognition. Israel already took the step in late December 2025, becoming the first nation to recognize it as an independent state, citing shared security interests in the Red Sea region.
Berbera sits at a key chokepoint near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, through which a large share of global trade and oil flows. With tensions rising in the Gulf and routes shifting toward the Red Sea, Somaliland positions itself as a reliable, stable partner—unlike Somalia, which remains mired in conflict and dysfunction.
Somaliland has maintained peace, held elections, built institutions, and kept its own currency and borders since reclaiming independence in 1991 after union with Somalia collapsed amid atrocities. It now offers the U.S. a low-risk alternative to volatile basing arrangements elsewhere, including potential relocation of assets from places like Al Udeid.
The proposal is straightforward: deliver recognition, gain strategic footholds and resource access that strengthen American interests against rivals like China and Iran. Somaliland delivers governance and security where others fail. Washington should seize the opportunity before others do.
HARGEISA – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, through its Diaspora Department, has officially launched an online platform dedicated to registering and managing the data of Somaliland citizens living abroad. The launch marks a historic milestone, being the first centralized digital system of its kind implemented in 35 years.
Officials stated that the new website is designed to bridge the communication gap between the government and its citizens abroad, providing a formal channel for data collection and service delivery.
Speaking at the launch event in Hargeisa, the Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Abdirahman Hassan, emphasized the strategic importance of the project. “This platform addresses a long-standing need and represents a significant achievement for our nation,” he said. “It will play a crucial role in connecting the diaspora with the ministry, strengthening cooperation, and facilitating access to government services and information. Furthermore, it will enable us to conduct a proper census of Somalilanders abroad.”
Ugbaad Nasir, the Director of the Diaspora Department, explained that the website is a comprehensive resource for citizens overseas. “This platform is a central hub where our diaspora can access accurate information from various ministries and learn about the services available to them, simplifying the process of obtaining the assistance they need,” Ms. Nasir stated. She officially invited all members of the diaspora to begin registering on the site immediately.
The initiative was praised by other government bodies for its potential to boost national development. The Director General of the Ministry of Investment and Industrial Development noted that the portal would provide reliable investment data, encouraging the diaspora to contribute to Somaliland’s economic growth. Similarly, the Chairman of the National Disaster Preparedness and Food Reserve Agency, Abdirahman Mohamed Ismail (Dixood), highlighted its utility in crisis response. “This platform will allow us to share real-time information on droughts and other disasters, enabling the diaspora to effectively participate in humanitarian relief efforts for their homeland,” he said.
Reactions from the diaspora community were overwhelmingly positive. Dr. Mohamed Caydiid Cilmi, a Somalilander residing in Finland, hailed the move as a “long-overdue step forward,” expressing his satisfaction with the improved access to government services. The Vice Chairman of the Somaliland community in Denmark, Hassan Omar, echoed this sentiment, describing the launch as a timely development that meets a critical need.
In his closing remarks, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdirahman Dahir Adan, underscored the profound role of the diaspora in the nation’s history. “Our diaspora have been the backbone of our country, particularly during our struggle for recognition and our national campaigns,” Minister Adan stated. “To honor that partnership and build a deeper, more structured relationship, this website has been created. It is a tool to keep them informed and connected to the homeland they have given so much to support.” The Minister concluded by commending the Diaspora Department for their extensive work in bringing the project to fruition.
HARGEISA — Somaliland’s President, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro), has declared that the nation has moved beyond state-building and internal peace consolidation to enter a new phase focused squarely on securing international recognition.
In an interview with the Financial Times in Hargeisa, President Irro reflected on Somaliland’s lengthy, home-grown nation-building process, which he stated was a collaborative effort between its citizens and successive governments. Since his election in 2024, he said, his administration has built upon the foundational work of his predecessors, continuing to present Somaliland’s comprehensive legal, historical, and political case to the world.
The lack of recognition, President Irro explained, remains a significant barrier to unlocking international economic opportunities, particularly in trade and investment. This status, he noted, fundamentally limits Somaliland’s ability to engage with global markets and forge economic partnerships.
He further emphasized that Somaliland’s renowned peace and stability were achieved through the unique, grassroots efforts of its people, who historically convened under trees to negotiate and resolve conflicts. These indigenous peace accords ultimately paved the way for the creation of a constitution, governing institutions, and the reassertion of Somaliland’s independence in 1991.
President Irro also highlighted Somaliland’s track record of conducting successive free and fair elections—a practice he described as a rarity on the African continent and a clear demonstration of the nation’s deep-rooted democratic commitment.
Somalia has warned that its territory cannot be used as a launching pad for military operations, after two media reports that said Israel is planning to establish a military base in the breakaway region of Somaliland, directly across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen.
“Somalia does not want to see its territory pulled into external confrontations or used in ways that could further destabilise an already sensitive region,” Ali Omar, Somalia’s state minister for foreign affairs, told Al Jazeera on Thursday.
The warning from Mogadishu comes after US outlet Bloomberg and Sweden’s public radio Ekot reported this week about Israeli plans for a military installation near the strategic port city of Berbera on the Gulf of Aden.
The reports come as the US‑Israeli war on Iran edges towards its second week, with the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed and the Houthis warning that they are prepared to enter the conflict.
In comments to Bloomberg, Somaliland’s presidency minister, Khadar Abdi, said Somaliland would pursue a “strategic relationship” with Israel that “encompasses a lot of things.” He added that the possibility of an Israeli base had not yet been discussed yet, but that it “will be analysed at some point.”
Omar said the “Federal Government is the only authority empowered to enter into international security or military arrangements on behalf of the country.”
“Any discussions about foreign military facilities on Somali territory that take place outside that framework simply have no legal standing,” he said.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, but had not secured recognition from any UN member state until Israel’s move to recognise the breakaway region in December. Somalia, however, continues to claim Somaliland, which has governed itself independently for more than three decades.
Somaliland officials have not divulged what was agreed upon with Israel when they established full diplomatic ties in December.
On January 1, its Ministry of Foreign Affairs flatly denied allegations from the Somali government that any military arrangements were under discussion with Israel, insisting its engagement with Israel was “purely diplomatic.” Shortly after, a ministry official told Israel’s Channel 12 that a base was “on the table and being discussed”.
In February, Khadar Hussein Abdi, Somaliland’s minister of the presidency, told the news agency AFP he “could not rule out” allowing Israel to establish a military presence.
Israel recognised Somaliland as an independent state on December 26th, becoming the first country to do so after more than three decades of failed bids by the breakaway region.
The Somali minister’s remarks come as the US-Israeli war on Iran escalates. The Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 percent of global oil and gas supplies transit, has effectively been closed amid Iranian threats of attacks on shipping.
Elsewhere in the region, Israel has intensified attacks on Lebanon, killing at least 687 people and wounding more than 1,500, according to Lebanese authorities. It launched the attacks last Monday after the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, a close Iranian ally, fired rockets in retaliation for the US-Israeli killing of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Yemen’s Houthis, another key ally of Tehran, have so far not been directly involved in the war, but they have said they are prepared to enter the conflict.
The group, which controls northern, western and central Yemen, has previously warned against an Israeli presence in Somaliland, describing it as a “hostile stance” and “legitimate target”.
Amid the growing focus on shipping lanes in the Middle East, attention has also turned to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a narrow waterway linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, through which roughly 12 percent of global trade passes.
Yemen’s Houthis have previously enforced a blockade on Israel-linked ships in the area in support of Palestinians in Gaza during Israel’s genocidal war.
The US embassy in Djibouti this week repeated a warning to US citizens against being near Camp Lemmonier, the US’s largest base in Africa, a sign of concern that the conflict could spread.
“The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden are critical corridors for global trade and regional security, and instability there affects the entire Horn of Africa,” Omar told Al Jazeera.
“When regional tensions rise, civilian populations are always the most vulnerable,” Omar told Al Jazeera, adding that, “steps that could expose Somali communities to unnecessary risks or draw them into wider geopolitical conflicts are not in the interest of our people”.
Amid the Iran war, Israel is quietly planning for a potential base at the mouth of the Red Sea that would allow it to target one of Tehran’s last-remaining proxies.
While the Iran war rages, Israel is quietly planning for a potential base at the mouth of the Red Sea from which to strike one of the Islamic Republic’s last proxies still operating at full strength: the Houthis of Yemen.
That’s thanks to Somaliland, the breakaway territory on the Gulf of Aden that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government recognized in December — a move that handed Israel its first diplomatic presence across from Yemen. Now, the Jewish state will follow up with a strategic security partnership that may involve Israel building a base – possibly covert – on its pristine coast, despite widespread regional criticism, according to Khadar Hussein Abdi, Somaliland’s minister of the presidency.
Khadar Hussein Abdi, Somaliland’s minister of the presidency, at his office in Hargeisa, Somaliland, on Feb 12.Photographer: Simon Marks/Bloomberg
“In terms of security, we will have a strategic relationship and that encompasses a lot of things,” Abdi told Bloomberg at his office in Hargeisa, the capital. “We haven’t discussed with them if it becomes a military base, but definitely there will be an analysis at some point.”
The breakaway state will allow Israel to gather intelligence on and conduct operations against the Houthis, according to two Somaliland officials who requested anonymity as they’re not authorized to speak publicly. The Yemeni group has struck the Jewish state with long-range weapons and has for years disrupted trade in the Red Sea, one of the world’s most vital shipping corridors.
Since the US and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, oil and gas prices have surged, with the Strait of Hormuz — which carries about a fifth of the world’s oil — effectively closed. As the conflict has dragged on, the shipping industry has faced escalating war-risk insurance premiums, with Iran striking several vessels. So far the Houthis have held back on attacking ships in the waterway but have suggested they could enter the war. The Houthi foreign ministry said Iran’s attacks on US bases in Gulf states were part of its “right to self-defense” and that Arab governments should direct their “hostility” towards “world Zionism, its American arm, and the Israeli entity,” according to BBC Monitoring, citing a Tuesday report by Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV.
Even if the war ends swiftly, it underscores the importance of Israel’s desire to secure a presence at the gateway to the Red Sea.
The Gulf of Aden off the mouth of the Red Sea, one of the world’s most vital shipping corridors, from Berbera, Somaliland, on Feb 11.Photographer: Simon Marks /Bloomberg
Israel has already begun laying the groundwork for a potential base. Last June, a small group of Israeli security officials arrived in Somaliland to visit its strategic coastline, according to people familiar with the matter.
The group spent days surveying the self-declared nation’s beaches, in order to identify a possible site for a base or installation to fight the Houthis, based just 260 kilometers (160 miles) across the Gulf of Aden in Yemen, the people said. A spokesperson for the Israeli government didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
One location under consideration by Israel, according to people familiar with the matter, is an area of high terrain about 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of Berbera, the port city where the United Arab Emirates – which normalized relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords – has both a DP World harbor and a military airstrip.
Israel Is Exploring Security Operations in Somaliland
Operational base would provide site for fighting Houthis
Source: Bloomberg
The Houthis — considered a terrorist group by the US — have held their fire since the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, but remain Tehran’s most formidable proxy after Israel crippled both Hamas and Hezbollah. Tensions between the group and Israel escalated in 2023, after the Yemeni militia began bombing both the Red Sea and the Jewish state in retaliation for the war in Gaza.
A protest organized by the Iran-backed Houthis, against the killing of Iran’s leader and US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, in Sanaa, Yemen, on March 6.Photographer: Mohammed Hamoud/Anadolu/Getty Images
An Israeli general has established a special intelligence unit on the Houthis and said in a background briefing with Bloomberg that they have hundreds of rockets that can reach Israel.
“The Israeli relationship with Somaliland matters in large part because the Houthis are expanding along the Horn of Africa,” said Ari Heistein, a research fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security. “If the ongoing US-Israel campaign degrades Iran’s ability to support the movement, the region could become an even more critical strategic arena for them.”
The two governments had discussed Israeli recognition for years, according to regional officials. But the deal was sealed quickly late last year because of Israeli intelligence officers, who now view the Houthis as one of Israel’s greatest threats, according to regional diplomats and a senior Israeli military official.
Shortly after Israel’s recognition on Dec. 26, more than a dozen senior military officials from Somaliland travelled to Israel for training as part of a push to deepen security ties, according to people familiar with the matter. Israel also rented rooms fitted with blast-proof windows on the top floor of a hotel in Hargeisa, they said, as it scouts a location for an embassy.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar meets with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, in Hargeisa, Somaliland on Jan. 6Source: Israeli Foreign Ministry/Handout/Anadolu/Getty Images
Netanyahu in December credited Mossad, among others, for helping to secure the deal to recognize Somaliland. Israeli officials also visited Hargeisa on Feb. 27, the day before war broke out in Iran.
Following the diplomatic move, 21 Arab, Islamic and African states including Egypt and Qatar expressed outrage, warning of its potential “serious repercussions” for peace and security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.
“The events in the Gulf, especially with Iran now attacking allies of the US, also highlight a dilemma for Somaliland – namely the prospect of getting dragged into regional conflicts without adequate defenses in place,” said Omar Mahmood, a senior analyst for Somalia at the International Crisis Group.
The Houthis emerged in the 1990s, and has been fighting a civil war in Yemen since 2014, where Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates backed the opposing side. Both Gulf countries have scaled back their involvement and now back rival non-Houthi political factions, while the militia controls the northern part of the country.
In early January, Somalia – under pressure from Saudi Arabia, which had accused Abu Dhabi of using the territory to extract a Yemeni separatist leader – cut all commercial and security ties with the UAE, specifically citing DP World’s ports in Berbera and nearby Bosaso in Puntland, another semi-autonomous region of Somalia. Both regional governments immediately rejected Somalia’s announcement.
The DP World port facility in Berbera.Photographer: Simon Marks/Bloomberg
Israel’s growing presence in Somaliland places the country in direct competition with Turkey, which is the main supporter of the central Somali government. It comes as Israeli officials have increasingly framed Ankara as a key threat to the Jewish state, with former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett recently referring to Turkey as “the new Iran.”
“For Israel, recognition of Somaliland offers a security counterweight to Houthi dominance in the Gulf of Aden,” said Conor Vasey, an analyst at the London-based advisory firm J.S. Held. “Specifically, it helps balance rising Turkish influence in Somalia.”
Turkey’s ambassador to Somalia, Alper Aktas, right, attends the inauguration ceremony of the Northeastern State administration, following it’s separation from Somaliland, in Las Anod, Somalia, on Jan. 17.Photographer: Abuukar Mohamed Muhidin/Anadolu/Getty Images
Turkey has developed its largest overseas military training base in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, and recently deployed F-16 jets to protect its interests in the country that include a ship exploring for offshore oil and gas. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Israel’s recognition of Somaliland illegal on a December trip to the region.
Beyond the Middle East powers jockeying for influence, the Islamist groups Al-Shabaab and Islamic State in Somalia have both threatened to attack Somaliland should Israel use the country for its own interests.
“We have a lot of enemies to this, who really want to put pressure on Israel,” said Mohamed Abdirahman, director-general of Somaliland’s foreign ministry.
The breakaway state now has its sights set on the ultimate prize – US recognition.
Already, Republican-aligned US Africa experts are rallying to its cause, including J. Peter Pham, who served as Trump’s envoy to the Sahel and Great Lakes regions in his first term, and Tibor Nagy, who then served as assistant secretary of state for Africa. Hargeisa has also hired the lobbying firm FGS Global to make its case to the Trump administration, and London-based Panterra as an adviser.
“As for strategic real estate, it is hard to beat Somaliland,” Pham told Bloomberg, noting the presence of Africa’s longest runway at 5,000 meters (3 miles) long as well as its deep-water port facilities in Berbera.
The DP World port in Berbera.Photographer: Simon Marks/Bloomberg
In August, Republican Senator Ted Cruz, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa, sent a letter to Trump urging him to recognize Somaliland as an independent state.
The US leader has voiced his discontent with America’s three-decade long military deployment in Somalia – even as he’s conducted 162 airstrikes in Somalia, three times as many as under the Biden administration, according to data compiled by the New America Foundation.
The US has also hired a former senior intelligence officer to conduct assessments of Somaliland on behalf of the American government, according to people familiar with the matter. The US State Department didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Abdi, the minister of the presidency, said Somaliland is ready to offer the US access to its largely unexplored and unproven reserves of rare earth minerals and oil. A military base is also on the table, he said.
“They are tired of supporting the failed state of Mogadishu,” said Abdi. “They have been pumping money and military support and nothing changes in Somalia. A policy shift is coming.”
