Somalia’s Parliamentary Committee Opposes Secretive Oil Deal With Turkey

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s parliamentary Natural Resources Committee has strongly opposed a controversial oil and gas deal signed with Turkey, following leaked documents revealing that Ankara would receive 90% of the revenue from offshore oil and gas production, while Somalia would earn only 5%.

Abdirisak Omar Mohamed signed the agreement in early 2024 without prior consultation with Parliament. The committee said lawmakers were not informed of the deal, which they argue violates Somalia’s legal and constitutional frameworks. The deal has sparked growing public outrage and raised serious concerns about national sovereignty and transparency.

Committee members allege that the agreement was pushed through Parliament without proper scrutiny or debate, and only now have the full details begun to emerge.

“The fact that Turkey gets the lion’s share while Somalia receives just 5% is unacceptable and shocking,” said one committee member. “This raises questions about whose interest this deal really serves.”

Public criticism has mounted across Somalia, with citizens and civil society organizations demanding clarity on how such a major agreement was reached in secrecy. The backlash has ignited national debate over foreign influence, resource control, and government accountability.

GAROWE ONLINE