The Maritime Partnership: Türkiye’s Endeavor with Somalia
In a world where alliances shape the contours of global power, Türkiye and Somalia have embarked on a captivating journey of cooperation through the ambitious offshore energy partnership initiated in March 2024. This potent alliance heralded the arrival of Türkiye’s seismic vessel, now diligently engaged in conducting intricate 3D surveys within Somali waters. A step paramount for nations looking to optimize energy resources, this venture unfolds with layers of complexity and promise.
“Our Oruç Reis vessel is still continuing its three-dimensional seismic activities in three sea areas covering around 15,000 square kilometers,”
Bayraktar commented during a recent briefing. “We are currently very active in Somalia and expect positive results.”
As the seismic vessels weave their way through vast swathes of the African coastline, one cannot help but reflect on the intricate dance of diplomacy and economics. What does it take to forge such an alliance, where the expectations and hopes of two diverse nations meet? The Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources for Somalia, Dahir Shire Mohamed, couldn’t have put it better when he declared this agreement a “historic day” for Somalia’s development and natural resource recovery.
The prospects of this alliance eagerly extend beyond hydrocarbons. Ministers from both sides have hinted at broadening cooperation to encompass joint mining ventures, a testament to the strategic depth of this partnership. This possibility hinges on the completion of regulatory groundwork, setting the stage for an expansive assessment of Somalia’s mineral riches.
Delving into Somalia’s burgeoning oil scene, exploration is actively underway in Mareeg, Harardheere, and coastal regions of Hobyo. Dahir Shire Mohamed has robustly underlined this burgeoning promise, expressing ambitions for Somalia to announce its inaugural oil production as soon as late 2025 or early 2026.
The collaboration sees Türkiye ready to amplify its commitment further, with a Turkish drilling ship presently stationed in the Black Sea poised to make its way to Somali waters once viable drilling targets are confirmed. How does one prepare for such a monumental shift, the kind that transforms entire economies and the lives of everyday citizens?
Backtracking a bit, let’s not overlook the profound history that solidified Türkiye’s vital role as Somalia’s preeminent international ally. A relationship that germinated during a humanitarian crisis in 2011 has since flourished into a robust partnership across various sectors. Since then, Türkiye has invested over $1 billion in Somali infrastructure, education, and health services. The influence is palpable, with Ankara opening its largest overseas military base in Mogadishu in 2017, an initiative that has seen up to 16,000 Somali troops, including the elite Gorgor commandos, trained under Turkish guidance.
This narrative of cooperation reached another pinnacle in February with the signing of a maritime security pact. The agreement bestows upon the Turkish navy a decade-long mandate to patrol Somali waters, with an added provision for Türkiye to claim 30% of revenues from Somalia’s exclusive economic zone. It’s an arrangement not merely steeped in defense but ensuring mutual growth in resource sharing.
The unfolding of these events paves the way for another significant moment as Türkiye gears up for its next engagement on the international stage. Scheduled for May 2 in the vibrant city of Istanbul, the International Natural Resources Summit promises to be an aquatic mosaic of maritime ambitions and investment narratives, set to spotlight Somalia’s abundant potential to a global audience.
What future awaits in these horizons of cooperation and opportunity?
In the grand tableau of global energy dynamics, this alliance is a compelling narrative of resilience and vision, a testament to how nations can come together to harness their strengths, looking towards a prosperous and sustainable future.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
