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The statement was delivered by Turkey’s Minister of Energy, Alparslan Bayraktar, who last week announced that Ankara has acquired new specialized vessels designed for offshore exploration and extraction along Somalia’s coastline.
Speaking about previous seismic surveys conducted in Somali waters, Bayraktar stated:
"This year we completed seismic operations, and it is highly likely that 2026 will mark the beginning of official offshore drilling in Somalia.”
He added that official results regarding the exact location and technical details of drilling are expected to be announced in January, signaling that the exploratory phase has reached an advanced stage.
However, what makes Turkey’s announcement politically and economically significant is the minister’s confirmation that drilling will not be limited to the sea. Turkey also plans to explore onshore resources, a move that would require complex security arrangements, major investment, and infrastructure that Somalia currently lacks.
Bayraktar acknowledged that some of the suspected oil-rich locations onshore are completely inaccessible due to lack of roads, implying that roads, services, and training facilities must first be constructed—a process that demands both time and substantial funding before onshore drilling becomes technically feasible.
These developments emerge at a time when Somalia is in a delicate political transition, with uncertainty surrounding the electoral model, timeline, and future political leadership of the country. Meanwhile, mistrust continues to grow between the Federal Government and the Federal Member States, raising a critical national question:
How will Somalia manage natural resources if drilling begins without a national agreement on revenue sharing, governance, and public accountability?
This moment presents President Hassan Sheikh, now in the closing period of his term, with an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy—provided that the current political obstacles are addressed and a stable environment is created.
Nevertheless, a crucial factor will be establishing strong state institutions capable of holding Turkey accountable and ensuring that natural resource exploitation does not further destabilize Somalia. Achieving this requires building competent, knowledgeable leadership and a national framework at a time when Somalia is preparing for a historic but highly sensitive phase in its future.
By Dahir Alasow – Waagacusub.net
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