Deal with Turkey sees Somalia launch 'historic' offshore oil drilling project

The government of Somalia has hailed the arrival of a drilling ship owned by the Turkish government, the next step in beginning offshore oil drilling operations.

The Cagri Bey will launch what Somalia says is its first overseas deep-sea oil exploration ​project, which is expected to last for around ten months.

A hydrocarbon development deal signed in 2024 granted Turkey's state-owned energy company the right to explore three offshore blocks of around 5,000 square kilometres each. This was followed by seismic surveys carried out by another Turkish vessel to identify drilling sites in the area of Galmudug state, about 270 kilometres off the coastline.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud led a delegation which included Petroleum and Mineral Resources Dahir Shire to meet a Turkish government delegation at a welcoming ceremony in Mogadishu.

Minister Shire said the arrival of the Cagri Bey represents renewed hope and optimism for the development of Somalia’s natural resources.

He expressed the hope that the project will mark "the beginning of major successes that will lead the country toward prosperity, job creation, and sustainable development".

Africa specialist Rutendo Hwindingwi notes that the agreement is twofold, with Somalia probably the only country in Africa that Turkey has both economic anda military ties with. 

"With this offhshore operation they're going to drill about 7,500 metres or 7.5 kms down. Apparently there are billions of barrels of oil the they can get out of the three offshore blocks. It's a great opportunity for Somalia which needs the investment, but at the end of the day they also give Turkey a strategic military point."

If it works properly to the benefit of both countries, it is the kind of deal we need to see more of on the continent, Hwindingwi says.

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