Hornpost
US Firm Pledges Cutting-Edge Drone and Sensor Technology to Boost Somaliland’s Energy and Mining Sector.
Hargeisa – (Hornpost) The Chief Executive Officer of One World Impact, Brain Baughman, has underscored Somaliland’s growing strategic and economic importance while unveiling advanced technologies and future investment plans during the opening of the Somaliland Minerals Expo 2025.
Speaking at the high-level forum, Brain Baughman expressed gratitude to the leadership of Somaliland, particularly the President and the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, for what he described as a warm welcome during his first visit to the country. He noted that One World Impact, a United States–based company, is working closely with the Ministry of Energy and Minerals on behalf of the Government of Somaliland to support the development of the energy and minerals sector.
Somaliland’s Strategic Role and Stability and US Recognition:
In his address, Brain Baughman emphasized Somaliland’s strategic location in the Horn of Africa, citing its proximity to the Gulf of Aden, its relative political stability, and its democratic governance system as key factors that make it attractive for long-term international investment. He also highlighted Somaliland’s cooperation with the United States and other Western partners, describing the country as a critical hub for safeguarding regional shipping routes and maintaining peace and stability. Baughman said “Somaliland holds a very important and strategic position in the Horn of Africa. to the credit of its leadership and its democratic form of government. It maintains a level of stability that is critical when seeking to attract long-term investment in the region. Its geographic proximity to the Gulf of Aiden and its willingness to work with the US and other Western nations make it an important strategic location, a location necessary for the protection of shipping routes and maintaining peace and stability in the region. I am increasingly encouraged uh especially lately by the current administration of the US and their willingness to recognize Somaliland”
Baughman said he was encouraged by what he described as increasing recognition within the United States administration of Somaliland’s strategic relevance, a development he believes will help stimulate greater global economic interest in the country.
A significant portion of his speech focused on new technologies that One World Impact plans to introduce to Somaliland’s energy and minerals sector. Among them is an advanced drone- and sensor-based system developed by UK-based Creole Plan in partnership with the US firm US Unmanned Air. Technology integrates existing land and environmental data with real-time sensor inputs to produce highly accurate, navigable three-dimensional models of terrain.
According to Brain Baughman, the system enables decision-makers and technical teams to virtually assess landscapes, including elevations, slopes, access routes, and potential constraints, before deploying equipment and personnel. Beyond mining, technology can also support border and corridor management, critical infrastructure protection, coastal and port monitoring, and early detection of terrain changes that could disrupt operations.
He further explained that the system includes advanced mineral detection capabilities using unmanned drones equipped with specialized sensors and analytic algorithms. These tools can identify geological patterns associated with mineral deposits, including gold-bearing formations, with a high degree of accuracy. While not a replacement for traditional geological validation, the technology is expected to significantly reduce unnecessary drilling and lower exploration costs.
The same platform, Brain Baughman added, can be applied to oil and gas exploration by processing data from ground-penetrating radar and other proprietary sensors to generate accurate three-dimensional and four-dimensional seismic surveys. It can also monitor automated mining equipment and worker safety in real time.
Looking ahead, Brain Baughman announced that One World Impact, in cooperation with the Government of Somaliland, plans to organize a series of focused investor forums over the coming year, ahead of the 2026 Somaliland Minerals Expo. These events are expected to take place in selected cities in the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and parts of Asia, with participation limited to small groups of pre-qualified investors.
He revealed that early interest has already emerged from investors in the United States, including the Permian Basin and Oklahoma, following reports of a more favorable US policy stance toward Somaliland.
Concluding his remarks, Bachmann thanked participants for attending the expo and reaffirmed One World Impact’s commitment to promoting Somaliland as an emerging destination for responsible investment in energy and mineral development.
Watch Brain Baughman Speech here
Pictures of the event
Prepared by:
Hornpost staff reporter
