Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced that the country is set to commence oil drilling “in the coming months. He made the remarks while addressing the Members of Parliament during the opening of the 7th Session of the Federal Parliament in Mogadishu.
The announcement follows recent oil and gas exploration activities conducted by the Turkish vessel Oruç Reis off the Somali coast, in collaboration with the Somali government.
“Our commitment is to use the wealth God has blessed Somalia with to drive growth,”President Hassan said, highlighting upcoming mega projects including new roads, airports, ports, and what he described as Africa’s first satellite launch station.
Somalia is believed to have some of the world’s largest oil reserves.
In October 2024, the Oruç Reis sailed to Somalia to conduct seismic surveys in three areas where Türkiye has secured exploration licenses.
“This is a significant achievement that reinforces our objective for Somalia to fully harness its natural resources, transforming them into economic opportunities and social progress,” President Mohamud had said during an inspection tour at the time.
The exploration by the Oruç Reis is part of broader cooperation between Türkiye and Somalia.
The agreement allows the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) to explore oil and gas across three land blocks covering approximately 16,000 square kilometers in Somalia.
The deal was signed in Ankara by Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar and Somali Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Dahir Shire Mohamed, marking a new phase in bilateral cooperation following earlier offshore agreements.
During his address on Monday, President Mohamud also emphasized Somalia’s commitment to constructing a satellite launch station with support from Türkiye, which is expected to be the first of its kind on the African continent.
While specific details remain limited, this project signifies Mogadishu’s ambition to embrace advanced technology and infrastructure, positioning Somalia as a potential innovator in global development.
Additionally, President Mohamud informed lawmakers that the security environment in Somalia has improved significantly over the past three years, noting that the largest portion of the federal budget is now dedicated to security and military reforms.
He praised the parliament for passing legislation that has secured debt relief for the country and for advancing constitutional reforms that had been stalled for years.
The President pointed out that the government is now able to pay the monthly salaries of 100,000 soldiers, civil servants, teachers, and political staff entirely from internal resources.
“This is the fruit of citizen contributions through taxation,” President Mohamud said.
