Somalia Offers U.S. Revival of 1980 Security Accord

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: The federal government of Somalia has taken a significant diplomatic step by offering the United States the opportunity to revive a historic agreement granting U.S. military access to Somali ports and airports.

The proposal comes amid heightened competition between the Federal Government in Mogadishu and the self-declared Republic of Somaliland over who holds the constitutional authority to negotiate international agreements involving strategic security assets and natural resources in the Horn of Africa.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ali Mohamed Omar said Somalia is prepared to renew a long-standing accord originally signed in 1980, describing it as a legitimate legal framework to strengthen bilateral cooperation with the United States.

The move is widely viewed as a direct response to reported outreach efforts by Somaliland to Washington, including proposals tied to critical minerals and potential military facilities, as it seeks deeper engagement or possible recognition independent of the federal government.

As global powers intensify competition over strategic maritime corridors linking the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, Somalia is positioning itself as the sole internationally recognized authority empowered to negotiate security and resource agreements.

The development highlights how geopolitical rivalry in the Horn of Africa is increasingly intersecting with Somalia’s domestic political dynamics, as the federal government works to consolidate its constitutional mandate over national defense, foreign policy, and strategic infrastructure.