Somali President Welcomes Turkish Delegation as Seismic Vessel Docks in Mogadishu

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud welcomed a high-level Turkish delegation led by Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Arslan Bayraktar, on Friday at Villa Somalia. The delegation arrived in Mogadishu to celebrate the arrival of Turkey’s seismic exploration vessel, Oruç Reis, which docked at Mogadishu Seaport to commence exploratory surveys for oil and natural gas off Somalia’s coast.

The visit marks a new milestone in Turkey-Somalia relations, as the two nations work closely on joint projects aimed at developing Somalia’s natural resources. Minister Bayraktar highlighted Turkey’s commitment to expanding its investments in Somalia, stating, “Our relations with Somalia grow stronger every day through the projects we develop together. We want to contribute to the prosperity of the Somali people by investing not only in oil and natural gas but also in the mining and electricity sectors.”

The Oruç Reis vessel will carry out seismic surveys as part of an agreement between Turkey’s Ministry of Energy and Somalia’s Ministry of Petroleum, signed in March. This collaboration is expected to enhance Somalia’s energy sector, which could unlock new economic opportunities and strengthen the country’s infrastructure.

President Mohamud expressed gratitude for Turkey’s support, emphasizing the significant impact such partnerships could have on Somalia’s economic future. He noted that this latest venture is another step toward achieving sustainable development in Somalia, benefiting the nation’s long-term prosperity.

The Turkish delegation’s visit and the arrival of the Oruç Reis demonstrate the strong alliance between Turkey and Somalia, underscoring both countries’ shared goal of economic advancement and mutual cooperation.

Mustaqbal