By Abdikarim Haji Abdi Buh 

The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) has embarked on a bold, yet controversial, campaign to promote uranium mining — a move that raises critical concerns about national security, corruption, and the country’s fragile political foundation.

Despite struggling to exert full control beyond the capital, Mogadishu, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration has signed a secretive agreement with Almond Energy, a little-known logistics company, granting it sweeping influence over the country’s nascent mining sector.

A Dubious Deal: Almond Energy’s Surprising Rise

In late 2024, the FGS inked a preliminary deal with Almond Energy, a company established in 2019 and headquartered in Mogadishu’s Waberi district. The agreement was quietly ratified by parliament weeks later without public consultation, independent review, or media coverage.

Although Almond Energy operates in logistics, aviation, and hospitality, it has no known background in mining. Nonetheless, the deal names Almond as a “strategic partner” to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mines, headed by Minister Dahir Shire Mohamed. The company is now directly involved in drafting new mining regulations to replace outdated 1984 legislation — effectively granting it significant sway over national resource policy.

The lack of transparency has sparked alarm. Critics argue that with Somalia’s weak institutions and unchecked executive power, the new regulatory framework may serve private interests at the expense of national development.

IAEA Membership: Oversight or Opportunity for Exploitation?

In September 2024, just weeks before signing the Almond Energy deal, Somalia joined the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), marking a significant diplomatic milestone. The accession process was orchestrated by Almond Energy, in collaboration with Kenyan technical advisors.

A delegation led by Arabey Abdi Hashi, Director General at the Ministry of Petroleum, visited the IAEA headquarters in Vienna. He was accompanied by Almond Energy’s Executive Director, Abdifatah Mohamed, and Kenyan nuclear expert Willy Murithi.

While IAEA membership brings access to technical expertise and international funding, it also raises concerns. In a country where corruption is endemic and judicial independence is virtually non-existent; oversight mechanisms remain weak. There is growing fear that Somalia’s uranium resources could be monopolized by political elites and foreign business interests, rather than used to benefit the Somali people.

Uranium-Rich, Terror-Ridden: The Al-Shabaab Factor

Somalia’s uranium potential isn’t new. A 1985 IAEA report estimated reserves of up to 150,000 tons, primarily in the Mudug region of the Galmudug Federal Member State. Exploration was initially led by foreign companies including Somirem, White Star Mining, and German firms Uranerzbergbau and Urangesellschaft mbH. These activities ceased in the 1990s as civil war erupted.

Today, however, many of these regions remain under the control of Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda affiliate that continues to launch deadly attacks on infrastructure and foreign targets. In 2023, UN monitoring groups confirmed that Al-Shabaab had seized control of several former mining areas, raising serious national security and nonproliferation concerns. Al Qaeda affiliate seizes Somali uranium mine

Experts warn that unless mining operations are coupled with strong security protocols, Somalia’s uranium could fall into the wrong hands — fueling not development, but destruction.

Fragmented Authority and the Federal Divide

Even beyond the terrorism threat, the political landscape poses a formidable challenge. The federal government’s authority rarely extends beyond Mogadishu. Federal Member States like Puntland and Jubaland operate their own security forces, mineral ministries, and fiscal regimes. In Galmudug, where many uranium sites are located, local authorities are unlikely to accept FGS-led projects without guarantees of transparency and equitable revenue sharing.

Somalia also lacks an independent judiciary capable of enforcing contracts or safeguarding against exploitation. Past energy agreements — especially those in the oil and gas sector — were marred by secrecy and corruption. Notably, the text of the agreement has never been made public, not even to Somalia’s cabinet or parliament – the Almond Energy will hopefully flow suit.

International Stakeholders: Kenya, Turkey, and Beyond

Somalia’s uranium story is attracting regional attention. Kenyan business figures with ties to President William Ruto have reportedly shown interest in Almond Energy’s ventures, in light of Kenya’s ambition to develop a nuclear power plant in Uyombo. However, uncertainty surrounds Kenya’s own nuclear program.

Turkey, already a dominant player in Somalia’s security and economic affairs, could also play a role. With its own nuclear aspirations and growing infrastructure investments in Somalia, Ankara may view Somalia’s uranium potential as a strategic opportunity.

Is Somalia Ready?

Somalia’s uranium ambitions carry far more risk than reward in their current form. The combination of terrorism, corruption, poor governance, and political fragmentation makes the prospect of safe, transparent uranium mining extremely unlikely in the short to medium term.

Comparative cases from Niger and Namibia show that uranium mining demands decades of preparation — including institutional reform, infrastructure investment, and strict regulatory oversight. Niger began uranium mining in the 1970s, but it only became economically viable decades later under more stable governance. Namibia’s uranium sector required substantial foreign investment and a functioning legal system before becoming sustainable.

Unless Somalia undertakes sweeping reforms to its governance, security architecture, and federal cooperation framework, its uranium ambitions are likely to do more harm than good. Without rule of law and public accountability, the best place for Somalia’s uranium may be exactly where it is: in the ground.

Abdikarim Haji Abdi Buh 
Email: abdikarimbuh@yahoo.com
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References

1. IAEA, “Somalia Joins the IAEA,” Press Release, September 2024
2. UN Monitoring Group on Somalia, Report on Somalia and Eritrea, October 2024
3. World Nuclear Association, Country Profiles: Niger, Namibia (2024 Edition)
4. African Development Review, “Uranium Mining in Africa: A Historical Overview,” Vol. 28, No. 3 (2017)
5. Almond Energy Ltd., info@almond-energy.com, Almond AAIA, Waberi District, Mogadishu
6. Corporate Registries (e.g.OpenCorporates, Dun & Bradstreet) for ownership and background verification