Turkey sends warships to Somalia’s coastline

ANKARA, Turkey - The government of Turkey has sent two warships to Somalia’s coastline, The Middle East Eye reports, noting that the vessels, named Oruc Reis, are set to protect those researching on exploration of energy and oil within the region.

Dispatching of the frigates comes after Somalia signed an oil deal with Turkey, with Ankara expected to do exploration and at the same time, protect the waters from external invasion. Exploration of the oil is set to improve Somalia’s economic fortunes.

Alparslan Bayraktar, the Turkish Energy Minister, said exploration of Petroleum has been authorized in three areas within the Somali seas. Bayraktar added that Oruc Reis will conduct a 3D seismic study in the area, “which had never been done before”.

According to him, the Turkish naval forces hall guard the vessels conducting research and exploration. An additional auxiliary ship shall also be discharged to guard the vessels, sources said.

Tunc Demirtas, an analyst on African affairs at Seta think tank, said that Ankara was taking utmost caution to guard the ship because it would operate in the open ocean.

“This is the first time a Turkish research vessel would operate in the ocean,” he told Middle East Eye. “The ship has to be protected from pirates as well as possible land-based threats.”

'Production sharing' oil deal

Ankara has operated in the Eastern Mediterranean in recent years, facing Greek objections and possible attempts at disruption. However, the Gulf of Aden and the waters near Somalia are significant new challenges for drilling operations.

The minister further said data indicates that research vessels would likely discover oil in chosen fields. The ships shall be arriving on the coastline by around October this year, he further said.

He added that in the event of a possible discovery of Somalia, the oil in the region will be shared with the Somali state within the scope of a "production-sharing agreement".

"After giving them the state rights they need to get, as long as you have oil, you can sell it anywhere in the world,” he said.

“We can bring it to refineries in our country. Therefore, it will be possible for it to be commercialized quickly and added to the economy."

Somalia signed defense cooperation with Somalia following endless threats from Ethiopia, which penned an agreement with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia over access to the sea. Ethiopia is hellbent on recognition of Somaliland as a sovereign state.

GAROWE ONLINE