Mogadishu, (SONNA) — The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of the Federal Government of Somalia, in the execution of its legal mandate, is closely monitoring unlawful mining activities being carried out by various individuals and companies, including both Somali nationals and foreign entities.
In accordance with the Principle of Permanent Sovereignty over Natural Resources, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Agreement on Ownership, Management and Revenue-Sharing of Natural Resources, as well as other applicable national legislation, the Ministry hereby formally notifies all parties engaged in unauthorized mineral exploration and extraction that the Federal Government of Somalia is the sole authority empowered to issue legal authorizations and permits for the exploration and development of mineral resources within the territory of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
Illegal mining not only constitutes a serious violation of the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Somalia, but it is also a source of illicit financial flows that may facilitate terrorism, thereby threatening the peace and security of Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa region.
Accordingly, the Ministry formally calls upon all individuals and entities engaged in illicit mining activities to immediately cease and halt their illegal operations. In the event of non-compliance, the Federal Government of Somalia shall take all necessary legal measures, pursuant to national laws and international law, to protect, preserve, and enforce its rights over the country’s mineral resources—an asset collectively owned by the people of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
