Somalia, U.S. open high-level trade talks in Mogadishu, eye energy and critical minerals amid rising offshore interest
Wednesday March 4, 2026
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Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia and the United States held high-level talks in the capital on Tuesday to expand bilateral trade and investment, with a sharp focus on energy and critical minerals, officials said.
The meeting — formally convened inside Somalia for the first time — was cast by both sides as a marker of growing confidence in the country’s security and economic trajectory. 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.
Investment push and legal clarity
Somali officials outlined opportunities across oil, gas and mineral resources, highlighting recent reforms intended to strengthen transparency, clarify commercial regulations and safeguard investor rights. The stated goal is to build a predictable, investor-friendly business environment capable of attracting meaningful foreign direct investment.
Talks centered on the development of Somalia’s energy sector — including hydrocarbons and critical minerals — and underscored the need for clear legal frameworks, accountable governance and long-term partnerships to ensure sustainable cooperation. Both sides agreed that credible oversight and contract certainty will be pivotal to mobilizing capital and technology.
Technical committees to move priorities forward
The two governments agreed to establish joint technical committees to follow up on the discussions and accelerate implementation of agreed priorities, according to officials familiar with the talks.
Daahir Shire Mohamed, Somalia’s minister of Petroleum and Minerals, said the discussions focused on encouraging U.S. investors to explore opportunities in the country’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.
Mohamed 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. He added that Somalia briefed the U.S. side on policy frameworks governing resource management and on 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.
Rising offshore energy interest
The talks come amid heightened international interest in Somalia’s offshore energy potential. Turkey has 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.
Turkish 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.
Next steps
While no commercial agreements were announced Tuesday, officials said the new technical committees will map out timelines and identify regulatory priorities to facilitate U.S. private-sector engagement. Somali officials framed the process as part of a broader effort to lock in economic gains by strengthening institutions and delivering bankable projects in energy and mining.
For U.S. and other foreign investors, the signal from Mogadishu is that Somalia intends to pair resource potential with clearer rules and oversight — conditions both sides say are necessary to translate interest into investment as offshore exploration gathers pace.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
