WASHINGTON — The Federal Government of Somalia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the U.S. state of West Virginia aimed at strengthening cooperation in the exploration, development, extraction and processing of Somalia’s mineral resources.
The agreement, signed on Friday, represents a potential step toward expanding Somalia’s international partnerships in the mining sector and attracting technical expertise and investment into the country’s largely underdeveloped mineral industry.
The MoU was signed on behalf of Somalia by Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Dahir Shire Mohamed, while Kris Warner, Secretary of the West Virginia Senate, signed on behalf of the U.S. side. Somalia’s delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama.
Under the agreement, Somalia and West Virginia will establish a framework for cooperation covering the identification and exploration of mineral deposits, extraction technologies, mineral processing, technical training, knowledge sharing and institutional capacity building.
The partnership is particularly significant as Somalia seeks to better understand and develop its deposits of potentially valuable minerals while establishing the regulatory and institutional systems needed to manage the sector responsibly.
During the visit, the Somali delegation was received by West Virginia Senate President and Lieutenant Governor Randy Smith, together with other senior state legislative officials. The meetings provided an opportunity for both sides to discuss potential areas of cooperation and the role of technical expertise in developing Somalia’s natural-resource sector.
Somalia’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources said the government intends to use the agreement to promote transparent, responsible and sustainable mineral-resource development in line with international standards.
The ministry also emphasized the importance of strengthening Somalia’s technical capacity and ensuring that mineral resources are developed in a manner that can contribute to economic growth, job creation, government revenues and broader national development.
For Somalia, the agreement comes as the government seeks to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on traditional sectors by developing natural resources, including oil, gas and minerals. The country is believed to possess a range of mineral resources, although large-scale exploration and commercial extraction remain limited.
The cooperation with West Virginia could provide Somalia with access to experience in areas such as geological research, mining technology, mineral processing, regulatory development and workforce training.
Officials have also stressed that future development of Somalia’s mineral sector will require strong transparency mechanisms, environmental safeguards, clear licensing procedures and responsible investment practices to ensure that the country’s natural resources benefit the Somali population.
The MoU does not necessarily mean that commercial mining operations will begin immediately. Rather, it provides a framework through which the two sides can explore future cooperation, technical partnerships and investment opportunities.
The Somali government hopes that such international partnerships will help lay the foundation for a modern and well-regulated mining industry capable of attracting responsible investors and contributing to the country’s long-term economic transformation.
