By Nuh Mohamed - Reporter
Somalia, 25 January 2026 - Somalia’s parliament on Saturday overwhelmingly approved a long-awaited mining law aimed at regulating the country’s mineral resources, the government said.
The bill was approved by the House of the People with an overwhelming majority, with 141 lawmakers voting in favour, two against, and one abstention, according to House Speaker Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur.
"This is a historic day and a great victory for the development of the country's natural resources," the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources said in a statement.
The new legislation replaces an outdated code from 1984. It establishes a legal framework for exploration, licensing, and resource management, which the government says will help prevent illegal mining and ensure transparency in how mineral wealth is shared between the federal government and regional states.
Somalia is believed to hold significant deposits of iron ore, copper, and gold, but decades of conflict and a lack of clear regulations have stifled industrial-scale mining.
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“The ministry is committed to implementing the law in collaboration with other government agencies to ensure that Somalia’s mineral resources benefit national development, create employment opportunities, and serve both current and future generations,” the statement added.
Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Dahir Shire Mohamed said the law was a "critical pillar" for economic growth and would create jobs while protecting the interests of the Somali people.
The bill now moves to the upper house for final approval before being signed into law by the president.
The move comes as Mogadishu seeks to diversify its economy and increase domestic revenue. In recent months, the government has also been pushing for increased offshore oil exploration, recently reporting interest from international energy firms.