Mogadisu revives cold-war pact as Somaliland courts U.S.

The Federal Government of Somalia has offered the United States a renewal of an old cooperation agreement dating back to 1980 that would allow U.S. access to ports and airports inside the country for military purposes, in a move widely interpreted as an attempt to pre-empt parallel diplomatic efforts by Somaliland to expand its external engagement through military basing arrangements and access to strategic mineral resources.

Reports cited Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ali Mohamed Omar (Ali Balcad) noting that Mogadishu and Washington already possess a “longstanding framework for cooperation,” including the 1980 agreement granting U.S. access to port and airport facilities for military use. He added that the federal government had “recently offered” to renew the agreement, describing it as the “appropriate and legal” pathway for any future security cooperation.

In a direct political message, Balcad stressed that any agreements concerning Somali territory, ports, airspace, or natural resources can only be legally binding if concluded through the constitutional institutions of the federal government. He argued that any declaration issued by a “regional administration” promising foreign parties “exclusive rights,” particularly in the minerals sector, carries no legal standing.

The Somalia’s initiative comes amid intensified diplomatic activity by Somaliland officials, who have spoken about their readiness to offer military and critical minerals to Washington as part of efforts to secure political recognition. Recently Somaliland’s Minister of presidency Khadar Hussein Abdi said that his administration is prepared to grant the United States exclusive access to mineral resources while remaining open to hosting military bases.

The competition has gained further momentum due to the international and regional sensitivity surrounding the Somaliland issue, particularly after Israel formally recognized Somaliland in December 2025, a development that intensified objections from Mogadishu and fueled debate over shifting spheres of influence in the Horn of Africa.

These competing offers also intersect with the growing strategic importance of the Horn of Africa in global security calculations. Somaliland occupies a strategic position at the junction of the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, with the Port of Berbera viewed as a gateway to one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. Maritime security concerns have increased amid threats to shipping routes linked to Houthi attacks around Yemen and the Gulf of Aden.

For Washington, engagement in Somalia in recent years has remained primarily tied to counterterrorism priorities, particularly operations against Al-Shabaab, which is affiliated with Al-Qaeda, as well as efforts targeting elements linked to Islamic State. U.S. involvement has included air support and intelligence assistance for Somala’si military operations.

This is not the first time that bases and ports have featured prominently in relations with Washington. In March 2025, Reuters reported that Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud sent a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump offering the United States “exclusive control” over strategic airbases and ports, including, according to the letter, the Baledogle and Berbera airbases and the ports of Berbera and Bosaso. The reference to Berbera drew objections from Somaliland authorities, who argued that any arrangements concerning the port must pass through them due to their effective control on the ground.

Port governance remains particularly sensitive in Somalia given previous disputes and agreements. In January 2026, the Somali government announced the cancellation of all agreements with the United Arab Emirates, including arrangements related to ports as well as security and defense cooperation. Mogadishu accused Abu Dhabi of actions undermining Somali sovereignty, stating that the decision covered agreements connected to the ports of Berbera, Bosaso, and Kismayo.

As Mogadishu seeks to reinforce constitutional authority over agreements related to security and natural resources, the issue appears likely to remain a source of continued tension, shaped by the intersection of legal claims, realities of territorial control, and intensifying regional and international competition over maritime routes and influence in one of the world’s most strategically sensitive regions.