Separatist Somaliland, in an attempt to gain international legitimacy, is looking to lure the U.S. by granting it access to mineral resources and military bases.
Israel became the only country in the world to recognize Somaliland's independence in December – something the territory has been seeking since declaring its autonomy from Somalia in 1991.
The government in Mogadishu still considers and international organizations like the U.N., see Somaliland as an integral part of Somalia.
"We are willing to give exclusive (access to our minerals) to the United States. Also, we are open to offer military bases to the United States," Khadar Hussein Abdi, minister of the presidency, told AFP in an interview Saturday.
"We believe that we will agree on something with the United States."
