Wednesday 4 Maarso 2026 {HMC} Somalia and the United States held high-level talks in Mogadishu on Tuesday aimed at expanding bilateral trade and investment, focusing on energy and critical minerals, officials said.
The meeting which was the first of its kind formally convened inside Somalia was described by both sides as a sign of growing confidence in the country’s security and economic trajectory.
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The U.S. delegation was led by Justin Dives, chargé d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Somalia. Somalia was represented by senior officials from the ministries of commerce and industry, petroleum and minerals, and foreign affairs.
Somali officials outlined investment opportunities in oil, gas and mineral resources, highlighting reforms designed to strengthen transparency, clarify commercial regulations and protect investor rights. They said the changes are intended to create a predictable and investor-friendly business climate capable of attracting foreign direct investment.
Talks centered on the development of Somalia’s energy sector, including critical minerals and hydrocarbons. Both sides emphasized the need for clear legal frameworks, accountable governance and long-term partnerships to ensure sustainable cooperation.
The two governments agreed to establish joint technical committees to follow up on the discussions and accelerate implementation of agreed priorities.
Somalia’s Minister of Petroleum and Minerals, Daahir Shire Mohamed, said the discussions focused on encouraging U.S. investors to explore opportunities in Somalia’s oil and mining sectors.
“We discussed how to jointly benefit from the country’s resources and create an environment that encourages U.S. investment in Somalia,” he told reporters after the meeting.
He said further technical meetings would be held between his ministry, the Ministry of Commerce and a technical team from the U.S. Embassy to advance cooperation. Somalia also briefed the U.S. side on policy frameworks governing resource management and preparations for the next phase of mineral and oil development.
Dives reaffirmed Washington’s readiness to support Somalia’s economic development efforts and to build partnerships grounded in transparency and shared interests.
The talks come amid heightened international interest in Somalia’s offshore energy potential. Turkey recently dispatched its deep-sea drilling vessel, Cagri Bey, to Somali waters for what Ankara describes as its first offshore exploration mission beyond its own maritime zone.
Turkey’s energy minister, Alparslan Bayraktar, called the deployment a “historic moment” and said the vessel is expected to begin drilling in April at the Curad-1 well off Somalia’s coast. The ship, escorted by Turkish naval vessels, is expected to arrive within weeks.
Ankara has said it aims to significantly expand hydrocarbon production through overseas exploration and production-sharing agreements.
