Somalia Seeks Mining Law Reform

Somalia, 27 October 2025 — The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources today submitted a comprehensive draft mining law to the House of the People, kicking off the legislative process to replace outdated regulations and establish a framework for transparency, investment, and sustainable resource management.

The draft, which was approved by the Cabinet on 12 August, was formally presented to parliament for debate and eventual approval.

Introducing the bill, Minister Dahir Shire Mohamed stressed the urgent need to modernize the sector. He stated that the new law seeks to establish clear rules for exploration, licensing, extraction, and resource management, bringing Somalia in line with international standards and the federal constitution.

“This law is a critical step to strengthen governance, prevent illegal mining, and build trust between the federal government, regional administrations, investors, and communities,” Minister Dahir Shire said.

The minister highlighted Somalia’s rich mineral resources, including iron, copper, uranium, and construction minerals. However, the sector has long lacked updated legislation, operating under the outdated 1984 mining law. The new draft law contains 10 chapters and 90 articles covering licensing, extraction, environmental safeguards, and regulatory oversight.