On Friday, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud inaugurated a welcoming ceremony for Türkiye’s seismic exploration vessel, Oruc Reis, at Mogadishu seaport. This mission aims to explore oil and gas potential along the Somali coast, signifying a milestone in Türkiye-Somalia energy cooperation. The Oruc Reis, which set off from Türkiye in late September with Turkish navy ships escorting it, will conduct three-dimensional seismic studies over the next six to seven months, with collected data to be analyzed in Ankara to identify promising drilling locations.

At the ceremony, President Mohamud, joined by Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre and other high-ranking officials, praised Türkiye’s consistent support for Somalia, recalling Turkish aid during Somalia’s 2010-2012 famine and President Erdogan’s visit to Somalia when the region faced instability. Mohamud declared it “a historic day for Somalia” and highlighted the new opportunity this mission presents for the country’s energy future.

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar underscored Türkiye’s commitment to Somalia’s development, sharing Türkiye’s goal to invest not only in oil and gas but also in mining and electricity to further strengthen bilateral relations. Bayraktar added that Türkiye and Somalia recently signed a new agreement to expand hydrocarbon exploration onshore, building on earlier accords that granted Turkish Petroleum licenses for offshore blocks. The arrival of Oruc Reis represents a deepening partnership, following Türkiye’s years of investment in Somalia’s infrastructure, education, and healthcare.