Somalilandsun-In the world’s frantic race for energy dominance, the small, unrecognized African territory of Somaliland is quietly stepping onto the stage, holding what could be one of the continent’s last major oil frontiers. Beneath the dust and rugged terrain of Somaliland lies a potential goldmine — not of gold itself, but of black gold: oil. And if the early estimates are anything to go by, this could transform the geopolitical and economic fortunes of a region that has, for decades, been politically adrift and economically fragile.
In 2020, TGS, the respected Norwegian seismic survey company, delivered a report that should have turned more global heads than it did. According to TGS, the Somali basin — which covers both offshore and parts of the onshore territories including Somaliland — likely holds offshore reserves of about 30 billion barrels of oil. The onshore reserves, while less consistently assessed, are not insignificant either.
The very mention of “30 billion barrels” instantly evokes visions of Dubai’s meteoric rise or the transformation of Saudi Arabia from desert lands into sprawling cities of opulence. Yet, Somaliland’s narrative is far more complex. It declared independence from Somalia in 1991 following the collapse of the Somali government but has not been internationally recognized as a sovereign state.
This political limbo has kept Somaliland out of major global investment conversations. And yet, paradoxically, this might have preserved its oil riches from the reckless exploitation that has characterized resource extraction in many African nations.
For Somaliland, oil represents more than just economic potential — it symbolizes political leverage, autonomy, and survival. A stable, oil-producing Somaliland could recalibrate international relationships and force a new conversation about its statehood. Continue Reading
