Somalia: Turkey aims to win exclusive fishing rights off the coast of Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia- Turkish government is persuading the Somali Federal government to approve a deal for an exclusive fishing rights off the coast of Somalia for 18 years, Garowe Online reports.

According to close sources, the past government led by former President Hasan Shaikh Mahmoud has agreed with the Turkish government on the deal. However, the details of the agreement were not disclosed to Somalia’s Federal Parliament or the public.

President Mahmoud’s close allies were pushing to ink the deal earlier for financial gains, but postponed by the Turkish government as the Federal government mandate ended during the past electoral election, added the source.

GO has learnt that Turkish President has discussed about the agreement with Somali President Mohamed Abdulahi Mohamed Farmajo during their meeting in Turkey last month.

Sources in the meeting said that Turkish President has requested from his Somali counterpart to sign the deal during his state visit, but President Farmajo noted that details of the agreement needed to be submitted to the government prior to the endorsement.

The draft agreement lacks details about the exchange of benefits between the two sides, however, Turkey will acquire exclusive fishing rights in Somalia’s waters for 18 years, according to the source who read the document.

Additionally, it is not clear whether Turkey is exchanging the humanitarian and financial aid giving to Somalia with the proposed deal.

In the past five years, Turkish companies have won rights to manage Mogadishu’s Aden Adde Airport and Mogadishu port, important sources of national revenues for the Federal government, and endorsed during the tenure of former Somali President Mahmoud. 

Turkish government is also expected to inaugurate the newly established $50-Million base, which occupies 400 hectares and houses three military schools, dormitories and depots, to support the Somali government in its bid to rebuild the national army forces. 

Nevertheless, pundits are expressing worries toward Somalia's international partners competing to utilize country's natural resources and infrastructure amid lack of strong government institutions to oversee such deals that was caused by the absence of rule of law and good governance over two decades.

GAROWEONLINE