A similar offer was made to Israel in December, but offer to US is for exclusivity
Desperate for international recognition, Somaliland has offered the United States exclusive access to its mineral resources and the possibility of establishing military bases, the al-Mayadeen website has reported.
“We are willing to give exclusive (access to our minerals) to the United States. Also, we are open to offer military bases to the United States,” Khadar Hussein Abdi, minister of the presidency, told AFP in an interview on Saturday, stressing: “We believe that we will agree on something with the United States.”
Al-Mayadeen has reported that the offer comes as Somaliland continues its long-standing bid for recognition since declaring autonomy from Somalia in 1991. Despite running its own affairs, including issuing its own passport and maintaining its own currency, army, and police force, the government in Mogadishu still considers Somaliland an integral part of Somalia.
Israel became the first country to recognise Somaliland’s “independence”, with Somaliland president Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi making a similar offer to that country as it is now making to the United States.
Somaliland lies across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen, where Ansar Allah has frequently targeted Israeli assets. Officials say Somaliland possesses natural resources including lithium, coltan, and other sought-after materials, though independent studies confirming the extent of these reserves remain limited.