Somaliland leader 'hopeful' about Israeli investment deals, says ready to offer 'valuable minerals'
While the territory's president said he hopes for future military ties with Israel, he insisted that hosting Israeli bases was not discussed
The President of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, said on 3 February that the breakaway region is “hopeful” about reaching a “partnership agreement” with Israel, which would offer access to the region’s vast mineral resources.
“At the moment, there is no trade, and there is no investment from Israel. But we are hoping 100 [percent] (for) their investment, their trade, and hopefully we will engage with the business people and the government of Israel soon,” Abdullahi told Reuters during a phone interview.
“Somaliland is a very rich country in resources – minerals, oil, gas, marine, in agriculture, energy, and other sectors.... We have meat, we have fish, we have minerals, and they (Israel) need them. So trade can start from these main sectors,” he added, stressing that “the sky is the limit” and that his country would seek access to Israeli technology in return.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel intends to pursue cooperation with Somaliland in agriculture, health, technology, and the economy.
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar visited Somaliland last month, and Abdullahi confirmed he has accepted an invitation to visit Israel, though no date has been set.
While Abdullahi said Somaliland also hopes for future military cooperation, he stressed that Israeli military bases had not been discussed.
However, that denial contrasts with earlier Financial Times (FT) reporting citing US officials who said recognition was discussed in return for a military base near Berbera, suggesting basing options may have been considered privately.
Israel’s recognition of the breakaway territory has triggered condemnation from Somalia, which claims Somaliland as part of its territory, and criticism from China, Turkiye, Egypt, and the African Union.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud later said Israel’s recognition of Somaliland was linked to undisclosed concessions, saying that Somali intelligence indicates Somaliland accepted conditions that included Palestinian resettlement, Israeli military access near the Gulf of Aden, and alignment with the Abraham Accords.