Turkey Signs Onshore Oil Exploration Deal with Somalia Amid Security Concerns

Turkey and Somalia have signed a new onshore oil and gas exploration agreement, granting Turkey’s state-run energy firm rights to conduct seismic surveys across three land blocks in Somalia, officials said on Thursday.

The deal, signed in Ankara, allows Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) to begin seismic studies over an area of approximately 16,000 square kilometers, part of a broader effort by both countries to expand cooperation in the energy sector.

“The partnership between Turkey and Somalia continues to grow,” Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said during the signing ceremony. “TPAO will use advanced seismic exploration methods to assess hydrocarbon potential. Based on survey results, drilling may follow.”

Somalia’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Daud Shire Mohamed, described the deal as part of ongoing collaboration. “If the surveys are successful, we expect broader cooperation to continue,” he said.

The onshore agreement builds on a March 2024 deal between the two countries for offshore exploration. Turkey’s Oruc Reis seismic research vessel has completed 78% of planned surveys in Somali waters, with the remainder expected to finish by May.

While financial terms of the onshore deal were not disclosed, Somali officials said they had invited Turkish companies to explore opportunities in Somalia’s mining sector, pending the establishment of regulatory frameworks.

Before the collapse of Somalia’s central government in 1991, U.S.-based companies had active oil exploration agreements in the country. These companies later exited under force majeure clauses following the outbreak of civil war and the breakdown of governance. Since then, the United States has spent hundreds of millions of dollars in Somalia, fighting the al Shabaab insurgency and supporting humanitarian relief and development projects across the country.

The agreement marks the latest development in Somalia-Turkey ties, which have deepened since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited Mogadishu in 2011. Since then, Turkey has invested in infrastructure, education, and healthcare, particularly in southern Somalia.

The deal comes amid a fragile security environment in Somalia, particularly in the south and central regions, where attacks by al Shabaab militants have escalated in recent months.

Officials have not disclosed the exact locations of the land blocks involved in the agreement. However, local reports suggest some of the areas may fall within regions administered by federal member states, raising potential questions over jurisdiction.

— Garowe Online