Somalia Cracks Down on Illegal Resource Grabbing, Vows to Assert State Control

The Federal Government of Somalia has issued a stark warning against what it describes as the systematic and illegal appropriation of the nation's mineral wealth, declaring a new campaign to reassert state control over the country's natural resources.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources announced that it is taking action against both foreign and domestic companies and individuals it accuses of engaging in the unauthorized exploration and extraction of minerals across various parts of the country.

In a strongly worded statement, the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Dahir Shire Mohamud, revealed that the illegal activities have been escalating over recent periods. He painted a picture of brazen exploitation that has occurred despite government oversight.

“What is happening is unconcealed,” Minister Dahir stated. “The resources that belong to the people and the nation are being plundered in parts of the country through individuals who are acting fraudulently.”

The minister's comments suggest that the problem involves not just foreign entities but also Somali nationals who are allegedly facilitating or directly conducting operations without legal authority.

At the core of the government's announcement is a firm reassertion of its sovereign right to manage and license the country's natural resources. Minister Dahir emphasized that the Federal Government is the sole entity with the legal mandate and responsibility to oversee the nation's resource wealth.

He made it clear that only the federal authorities possess the legal power to authorise and regulate such activities. “The Federal Government is the responsible entity for the country's resources, and it alone can license them, as the law stipulates,” he declared.

This move is seen as an effort to centralize control and bring a notoriously opaque and often chaotic sector under the purview of official regulatory frameworks.

Somalia is believed to possess significant untapped mineral reserves, including uranium, tin, gypsum, and potentially valuable rare earth elements. For decades, the lack of a strong central government, coupled with ongoing security challenges, has created a vacuum where illegal mining and resource smuggling could flourish.

Various regional administrations and non-state actors have at times sought to control and profit from local resources. The federal government's new stance represents a critical test of its ability to extend its administrative and legal authority across the entire national territory.

The Somali government's public crackdown on illegal resource grabbing marks a pivotal moment in the nation's ongoing state-building process. It signals an intent to convert the country's vast natural resource potential from a source of conflict and illicit wealth into a legitimate engine for national development.

However, the announcement is just the first step. The government now faces the formidable challenges of enforcement—investigating the accused entities, halting ongoing illegal operations, and establishing a transparent and credible licensing system that can attract legitimate investment. The success or failure of this initiative will be a key indicator of Somalia's progress in consolidating its economic sovereignty and ensuring that its natural treasures benefit the Somali people as a whole.