
Turkey and Somalia have deepened their strategic partnership by signing a new agreement on joint onshore hydrocarbon exploration.
The deal, inked between Turkey’s state-owned energy company TPAO and Somalia’s petroleum authority, aims to explore for oil and natural gas within Somalia’s land boundaries.
Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced the agreement during a ceremony in Mogadishu to welcome the Oruc Reis seismic research vessel.
This vessel, deployed under a separate March agreement, will commence offshore exploration for oil and natural gas in Somali waters.
Bayraktar emphasized that the new onshore exploration agreement signifies an expansion of Turkey’s cooperation with Somalia in the energy sector.
The recent deal follows a broader defense and economic cooperation agreement signed between the two nations earlier this year.
Turkey has emerged as a key ally of Somalia, investing in infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
In 2017, Turkey established its largest overseas military base in Mogadishu to further strengthen its support for Somalia’s security and stability.