Somalia welcomes Turkish naval vessels as offshore oil exploration nears start

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s Deputy Defense Minister Omar Abdi Ali, accompanied by the Somali National Army chief, formally welcomed Turkish naval vessels in Mogadishu on Tuesday, officials said, marking a step in the country’s push to strengthen its naval and coastal defense capabilities.

The arrival of the ships comes as the Somali federal government prioritizes building, equipping, and modernizing its naval forces to secure the country’s territorial waters and safeguard natural resources.

The ceremony was attended by Somalia’s Deputy Minister of Ports and Maritime Transport, the Navy and Coastal Defense commander, the Somali National Army’s deputy chief of staff, the Turkish ambassador to Somalia, and other military officials.

Officials at Mogadishu port said one vessel, an oil exploration and drilling ship, docked alongside a security support vessel. The ships were dispatched from Turkey earlier this year under a bilateral agreement with Ankara covering offshore oil survey and drilling operations.

Security has been significantly reinforced along Somalia’s coast, particularly in areas that underwent preliminary seismic surveys in 2024. Turkey has deployed both manned and unmanned military aircraft to monitor and protect the vessels and survey sites.

Originally, Somalia and Turkey had planned to begin offshore drilling by late 2025, but the timeline was pushed back to early 2026. With the arrival of the Turkish ships in Mogadishu, drilling operations are now expected to start in the near future.

GAROWE ONLINE