Saturday March 14, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s federal government on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. state of West Virginia aimed at developing the country’s critical mineral resources, officials said.
The agreement was signed by Somalia’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Dahir Shire Mohamed, and Kris Warner, secretary of the West Virginia Senate. Somalia’s delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama.
The Somali delegation was received by West Virginia Senate President and Lieutenant Governor Randy Smith, along with other state legislative officials.
Officials said the agreement will focus on capacity building, technical training and the development of domestic mineral processing infrastructure in Somalia. The government hopes the partnership will help attract American investment into sectors such as critical minerals, which are increasingly important for advanced manufacturing and renewable energy technologies.
Somalia has long reported the presence of untapped mineral deposits, including rare earth elements and other strategic resources, though large-scale extraction has yet to materialize due to decades of instability and limited infrastructure.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources said it intends to use the agreement to promote transparent and responsible extraction practices aligned with international standards.
