Turkish Deputy Defense Minister Musa Heybet Visits Mogadishu to Greet Oil Vessel Arrival

Turkish Deputy Defence Minister Lands in Mogadishu: Special Reception for Oil Research Ship

MOGADISHU – With a watchful eye on new horizons, Turkish Deputy Defence Minister Musa Heybet touched down in the buzzing hub of Somalia’s capital. His arrival heralds the imminent docking of an oil exploration vessel, primed to set sail into the depths of the Indian Ocean for seismic surveys.

This vessel, recently launched from Turkey under the watchful command of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is on a dual mission: to map underwater topography and unlock the hydrocarbon stores suspected to reside along the Somali coastline.

Receiving the Turkish dignitaries, Abdirisaq Omar Mohamed, Somalia’s tireless Minister for Petroleum and Minerals, was poised to preside over this pivotal event. A little while back, Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud inked a key agreement that beckons Turkish expertise into Somali waters.

Adding to the occasion’s gravity, Somalia’s ambassador to Turkey, Fathudin Ospite, who has been a stalwart advocate for this partnership, was present. All eyes are on Turkey’s research flagship, the Oruc Reis, esteemed in scientific circles since 2017.

Through the wonders of modern social media, Erdogan himself declared the ship’s commission via platform X, asserting its navigational reach will embrace both the Indian Ocean and the enigmatic waters of the Red Sea. Somalia basks in the pride of its extensive 3,333-kilometer coast.

Optimistically casting aside regional tensions, Erdogan remarked, “This terrain, once known for upheaval, is now on course for economic success, thanks to the discoveries poised from Oruc Reis’s explorations.”

An enduring friendship back in vogue, Turkey has intertwined its fate with Somalia since 2011, championing endeavors beyond mere camaraderie. Erdogan’s 2011 visit catalyzed robust reforms covering security, health, and economic empowerment.

In a somber note, Abdirisaq Omar Mohamed conveyed heartfelt condolences to Heybet over the tragic terror strikes in Ankara, which claimed a handful of lives, expressing solidarity: “The Somali people stand aligned with our Turkish brethren in this hour of grief.”

Turkey’s military footprint in Somalia is marked by its training of the esteemed GorGor forces, a formidable contingent in the counter-terrorism crusade against militant presence. They operate the most prestigious foreign military academy on Somali soil, reaping considerable acclaim.

SOURCE: AXADLETM