Somaliland ready to host US bases if recognised as independent

Somaliland has offered the United States exclusive access to its mineral resources and the possibility of establishing military bases on its territory, a senior regional official has said.

In an interview with AFP, Somaliland’s “minister of the presidency” Hadar Hussein Abdi stated that the proposal is part of the region’s broader push for international recognition of its independence, declared in 1991 after it broke away from Somalia.

Somaliland remains internationally unrecognised but has maintained de facto autonomy for more than three decades.

Earlier, Israel became the first country to recognise the region’s independence. Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi has also signalled readiness to grant Israel privileged access to mineral resources and has not ruled out hosting an Israeli military presence.

Strategically located along the Gulf of Aden opposite Yemen, Somaliland occupies a key position near one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes. Regional authorities claim the territory holds reserves of lithium, coltan and other critical minerals in high global demand, though these estimates have yet to be independently verified.

For the record, Somaliland declared independence from Somalia following the collapse of the central government in 1991. Despite establishing its own institutions, currency and security forces, it has not secured broad international recognition and is still considered part of Somalia under international law.

By Khagan Isayev