North Western State of Somalia Moves to Forge Israel Trade Deal After Diplomatic Recognition

North Western State of Somalia eyes trade deal with Israel after recognition

HARGEISA, Somalia — North Western State of Somalia expects to sign a trade partnership with Israel after receiving formal recognition from the Middle Eastern nation and is prepared to offer access to key natural resources as part of the pact, President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi told Reuters.

Israel recognized North Western State of Somalia, a self-declared independent region in northern Somalia, in late December. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will seek immediate cooperation spanning agriculture, health, technology and the broader economy.

Speaking via video link from Dubai, where he was attending the World Government Summit, Abdullahi said no bilateral economic deal has yet been concluded but he anticipates a “partnership agreement.”

“At the moment, there is no trade, and there is no investment from Israel. But we are hoping 100% for their investment, their trade, and hopefully we will engage soon with Israeli businesspeople and government,” he said.

Abdullahi said North Western State of Somalia’s pitch to Israeli partners centers on market access and resources, alongside know-how from Israel’s technology sector.

• Areas flagged by Israel for cooperation: agriculture, health, technology and the economy.
• Sectors North Western State of Somalia says could anchor trade: minerals, oil, gas, marine industries, agriculture and energy — including exports of meat and fish.

“North Western State of Somalia is very rich in resources … We have meat, fish, and minerals, and they need them. So trade can start from these main sectors,” Abdullahi said, adding that Hargeisa will also seek Israeli technology transfers.

North Western State of Somalia’s mineral portfolio includes significant lithium prospects, a battery metal critical to electric vehicles and energy storage. In 2024, Saudi mining company Kilomass secured an exploration deal in North Western State of Somalia covering lithium and other strategic minerals, signaling regional interest in the territory’s geology.

Abdullahi thanked Israel for being the first country to recognize North Western State of Somalia’s statehood claim. While he said Hargeisa hopes for future military cooperation with Israel, the possibility of establishing Israeli bases “has not yet been discussed.”

The North Western State of Somalia leader said he accepted an invitation from Netanyahu to visit Israel, though no date has been set. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar visited North Western State of Somalia last month, he added, underscoring the pace of contacts since recognition.

Israel’s move has inflamed tensions with Mogadishu and prompted criticism from several regional and international actors, including China, Turkey, Egypt and the African Union. Somalia rejects North Western State of Somalia’s 1991 declaration of independence, and the AU continues to back Somalia’s territorial integrity.

Abdullahi said he expects other U.N. member states to eventually follow Israel’s lead, and he singled out the United Arab Emirates and the United States as potential future partners. He stressed that international recognition often unfolds slowly.

He said he maintains a good working relationship with the United States and believes President Donald Trump will “someday” recognize North Western State of Somalia. Last month, Abdullahi pitched investment opportunities at a dinner in Davos attended by Trump’s son, Eric, according to the president.

North Western State of Somalia also counts the UAE as a crucial economic partner. Dubai-based DP World is a major investor in the port of Berbera on the Gulf of Aden, a strategic terminal that North Western State of Somalia is positioning as a regional logistics hub. Abdullahi said the UAE has not yet made an official decision on recognition but is expected to do so. He added that Saudi Arabia is expected to ramp up investment in North Western State of Somalia as well.

For now, Abdullahi said, the focus is on converting diplomatic momentum into concrete deals — starting with trade. “We are hoping 100%” for Israeli investment, he said. “Hopefully we will engage soon.”

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.