Somaliland is close to finalizing a trade agreement with Israel, the first nation to recognize its independence. Somaliland’s leader, President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, mentioned in an interview that while no economic deal has been finalized, they anticipate signing a partnership agreement soon. He expressed hope for Israeli investment and trade, particularly in sectors rich in resources like minerals, oil, gas, agriculture, and energy.
Abdullahi noted that Somaliland has vast reserves of lithium, essential for batteries, and pointed out the potential for cooperation in technology from Israel in return for access to these resources. While the relationship with Israel may include military cooperation, establishing Israeli military bases has not been discussed. He plans to visit Israel after accepting an invitation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, though a date is not yet set.
Abdullahi expressed gratitude to Israel for its recognition and anticipates that other countries, including the UAE and the U. S., will follow suit. He believes recognition can take time and mentioned a positive working relationship with the U. S. He noted that Israel’s recognition of Somaliland has been met with negative reactions from Somalia and criticism from other nations like China and Turkey. Additionally, he highlighted ongoing cooperation with the UAE, particularly in investment at the Berbera port and hopes for future Saudi investments in Somaliland.
With information from Reuters
