People walk by the flags of Israel and Somaliland flying alongside each other at the entrance to a fruit farm between the city of Hargeisa and Port city of Berbera along the highway connecting the two. AFP
The government in Mogadishu, along with the international community consider Somaliland an integral part of Somalia even though the territory has run its own affairs since 1991, with its own passport, currency, army and police force.
In December, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally recognized Somaliland, a move that drew regional condemnation. U.S. President Donald Trump declined to follow suit, signaling that Washington would not immediately mirror Israel’s decision and downplaying the strategic significance of the self-declared breakaway region.
Egypt and 21 Arab, African, and Islamic countries condemned the Israeli recognition as illegal and a blatant violation of international law.
In a joint statement in January , the 22 countries reaffirmed unwavering support for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Somalia federal government.
"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.
"We believe that we will agree on something with the United States."
Somaliland alleged president Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi already suggested in recent weeks granting Israel privileged access to its mineral resources.
And Khadar Hussein Abdi said he could not rule out the possibility of also allowing Israel to set up a military presence.
Somaliland lies across the Gulf of Aden from Yemen. Its officials have said natural resources include lithium, coltan and other sought-after materials, though independent studies are lacking.
* This story was edited by Ahram Online.
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