According to officials from both countries, Somalia and Turkey announced the signing of an oil and gas exploration agreement to reinforce further co-operation between the nations.
According to Somali Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Abdirizak Mohamed, the agreement signed on Thursday aims to promote bilateral scientific, technical and commercial co-operation between Turkey and Somalia in the development of Somali oil and gas.
“The Turkish will do the exploration, appraisal and development and production of petroleum from onshore and offshore blocks of the Federal Republic of Somalia as well as distribution, and maybe a refinery sale of petroleum and its product and service operations related to these projects.”
Turkey would build, train and equip Somalia’s navy under the agreement, which will be valid for 10 years, according to Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre. Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar also welcomed the deal:
We signed an intergovernmental agreement and memorandum of understanding with Mr. Abdirizak Omar Mohamed, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of Somalia, to enhance our cooperation in the field of oil and natural gas in Somalia’s onshore and offshore blocks.
Turkey has been Somalia’s main partner since 2011, when then Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the country at the height of a deadly famine. Since then, Turkey has been providing humanitarian and financial aid to Somalia. Mohamed declared:
“Turkey is one of our allies, it’s one of our friends, they have been in Somalia at a time when every other country has neglected and has not given any support. So this agreement only deepens and enhances the deep relationship between the two countries.”
