Somalia and Türkiye on Thursday signed an agreement on the development of hydrocarbons in the Horn of Africa nation, Somali petroleum minister Abdirizak Mohamed.
“This is an exciting moment for both countries,we appreciate (Türkish) support in accelerating the development of hydrocarbons in (Somalia),” he said on X.
“Thanks to HE Dr. Alparslan Bayraktar for hosting me in Istanbul during the signing of the (agreement).”
Bayraktar is Türkiye’s energy minister.
The Somali government-owned SONNA news agency said the deal paves the way “for collaborative exploration and production of oil and natural gas across Somalia’s extensive onshore and offshore blocks”.
“The pact was endorsed by the nations’ respective petroleum ministers,” it added.
The agreement further strengthens ties between the two countries after they signed a defence pact in February.
The US government estimates that Somalia may have at least 30 billion barrels of oil and gas reserves.
But there has been no significant investment in the sector since the collapse of the Somali government in the early 1990s.
Last month, Türkiye signed a defence agreement with Somalia.
The pact committed Türkiye to defend Somali waters in the Indian Ocean and help rebuild its Horn of Africa ally’s navy.
The deal came amid rising tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia.
In early January, Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the self-proclaimed republic of Somaliland allowing Addis Ababa to set up a naval base in the Gulf of Aden.
In exchange, Ethiopia said it would recognize Somaliland’s independence.
Somalia, which counts Somaliland as part of its internationally recognized territory, condemned the agreement, saying it was an unacceptable violation of its sovereignty.
