The Turkish oil exploration vessel has arrived in Somalia marking a significant step in the country’s efforts to develop its energy sector, as cooperation between Mogadishu and Ankara continues to expand through agreements focused on natural resource exploration and long-term economic development.
Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, confirmed that the exploration vessel Çağrı Bey has reached Somali waters and that preparations are underway for drilling operations, which are expected to begin under existing bilateral agreements between the two governments.
“Our vessel, Çağrı Bey, has reached Somalia and is expected to commence oil drilling operations shortly,” Bayraktar said, expressing confidence that the project will proceed as planned.
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Scope of work
The deployment follows a series of agreements aimed at strengthening energy cooperation between Somalia and Türkiye. Both governments are working to expand exploration activities across Somalia, where authorities believe significant reserves of oil and other natural resources remain largely untapped.
Officials from both countries said the current phase will focus on initial drilling operations, while additional seismic surveys and technical assessments continue in parallel to identify areas with commercially viable hydrocarbon deposits. The initiative forms part of a broader strategic partnership that extends beyond oil exploration to include cooperation in the extractive industries, particularly mineral exploration. Somalia has increasingly sought to position itself as an attractive destination for foreign investment in energy, mining, and infrastructure.
For Somalia, the arrival of the Turkish exploration vessel represents another milestone in its strategy to attract international investment into the energy sector, which the government considers central to its long-term economic development agenda despite ongoing political and security challenges.
Authorities have placed growing emphasis on developing the country’s natural resources to increase domestic revenue, create employment opportunities, reduce dependence on external assistance, and strengthen institutional capacity to manage large-scale energy projects. The partnership with Türkiye is also expected to support knowledge transfer and technical capacity building, with Somali institutions working alongside Turkish counterparts in exploration, drilling, and resource management. Officials believe this cooperation will help lay the foundation for a more sustainable and competitive energy sector in the years ahead.
